Blackcaps paceman Lockie Ferguson has received unlikely support to make his test debut next week from someone who's in line to face him.
England captain Joe Root has been impressed with Ferguson's form in white-ball cricket and believes he's ready to make the step up to the highest level in the first test at Mt Maunganui's Bay Oval.
Back together for the first time since 'The Ashes', the England test team has faced valuable time in the middle against a New Zealand XI in Whangarei.
And Root expects they'll need it, as they prepare for the world second-ranked Blackcaps.
But despite that group being well established, Root is picking a new face to emerge in Ferguson, when the test squad is named on Thursday.
"He's proven his worth in the white-ball format, so it'll be interesting to see if that is the case."
Whether Ferguson plays or not, the series won't be without it's challenges. Root admits England haven't always found New Zealand a happy hunting ground.
"It's a very tough place to come and play test cricket, and they've a very well-rounded team here, especially in their own conditions. They should be very confident within their own ability."
That confidence comes with being unbeaten at home in tests in two years.
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