England All-rounder Ben Stokes return is likely to be a major determinant in England team aginst New Zealand pink ballTest at home at Eden Park starting on Thursday.

England All-rounder Ben Stokes return is likely to be a major determinant in England team as New Zealand enters the pink ball era with their first day-night Test at home at Eden Park starting on Thursday.

Now England need him, indisputably. As Morgan said: ‘It creates another opportunity, particularly if Ben can bowl, for us to pick an extra bowler or extra batter. In the past we’ve gone for an extra bowler because Ben can bat at five. That pushes Jos Buttler down to six and Moeen Ali at seven, Chris Woakes] at eight, which is quite deep really.” In addition to strengthening the batting, Stokes will allow Morgan to deploy four pace bowlers and two spinners: if one spinner is taken apart, which is likely given the short boundaries on most New Zealand grounds, the fourth seamer can fill in. For the latest news and ladbrokes promo code you visit our news section

Anderson and Broad's new ball partnership, however, looks like it could be broken with Woakes and Wood sharing the responsibility with Anderson in a warm-up match in Hamilton that was played with both a pink and a red ball.