New Zealand vs England 2018: 5 things to look out for in ODI series

#5 Group of exciting fast bowlers

The series will feature many young exciting seamers. New Zealand want a third pacer to assist the Southee-Boult combine and Lockie Ferguson, somebody who bowls at over 140 kph, could well be that player.

He will add the dimension of speed to New Zealand's pace attack which already boasts of two brilliant exponents of swing. Ferguson could be the man to watch in this series.

On England’s side, Mark Wood impressed against Aussies by bowling at a lively pace while Woakes remains the swing expert in the team. But the man who grabbed everyone’s attention was Tom Curran.

Dismissed as another typical swing and seam bowler, Curran showed great heart in the Ashes series and then made a bigger mark in the ODI series with a match-winning 5-for in the final game against Australia. What impressed most was his ability to get reverse-swing which, it has to be remembered, was a crucial factor in Pakistan’s triumph in the Champions Trophy, and therefore an important skill to possess.

The English attack, however, is still in the process of evolving as the World Cup draws ever so close and the seamers will be watched very closely by the selectors. Curran, Woakes, Wood and David Willey, all have a case to make.