New Zealand v England: first women’s T20 international – live

Peek my head round the door for the national anthems, Heather Knight has her arm round her old mucker Tammy Beaumont, playing in her 100th T20 international. Jess Kerr has the ball and waits for the countdown clock.

We look at the pitch. The commentators lay their hands on it like they’re feeling the stomach of a pregnant woman. It is said to be “a belter”, warm and hard, a batting paradise, The temperature is balmy high teens, the sky gloriously blue. Time for me to put the kettle on, back in five.

New Zealand: Suzie Bates (c), Izzy Gaze (wk), Georgia Plimmer, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Mikaela Greig, Hannah Rowe, Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu, Rosemary Mair, Fran Jonas.

Mikaela Greig makes her international debut.

England: Beaumont, Dunkley, Bouchier, Knight (c) Jones (wk) Gibson, Heath, Dean, Glenn, Filer, Bell.

Lauren Filer makes her T20 debut.

England: Beaumont, Dunkley, Bouchier, Knight (c) Jones (wk) Gibson, Heath, Dean, Glenn, Filer, Bell

Susie Bates wins the toss, leading New Zealand for the first time on home soil. “With the games we’ve played here in the past, the wicket gets better and better so we trust in our seam attack. My job is to lead from the front, we’re focused on the cricket we want to do, the brand of cricket we want to play.”

Heather Knight “This is a great place to have a bit of prep, enjoying Queenstown. A slightly different group but great to give girls an opportunity who have been on the fringes. Lauren Filer is making her T20 debut today, runs in and bowls quick, hits the deck hard.”

Susie Bates wins the toss, leading New Zealand for the first time on home soil. “With the games we’ve played here in the past, the wicket gets better and better so we trust in our seam attack. My job is to lead from the front, we’re focused on the cricket we want to do, the brand of cricket we want to play.”

Heather Knight “This is a great place to have a bit of prep, enjoying Queenstown. A slightly different group but great to give girls an opportunity who have been on the fringes. Lauren Filer is making her T20 debut today, runs in and bowls quick, hits the deck hard.”

Susie Bates wins the toss, leading New Zealand for the first time on home soil. “With the games we’ve played here in the past, the wicket gets better and better so we trust in our seam attack. My job is to lead from the front, we’re focused on the cricket we want to do, the brand of cricket we want to play.”

Heather Knight “This is a great place to have a bit of prep, enjoying Queenstown. A slightly different group but great to give girls an opportunity who have been on the fringes. Lauren Filer is making her T20 debut today, runs in and bowls quick, hits the deck hard.”

Good morning night owls and day birds and welcome to the first T20 of the five match series between England and New Zealand.

Last time we saw them, England were losing to India in a gripping Test in Mumbai – even if the eventual result was a 243 run thrashing. Now they’re back, in beautiful Dunedin, if somewhat underpowered, with Danni Wyatt, Sophie Ecclestone, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey not joining until the fourth T20, after their stints in the WPL. This gives some new blood a chance – notably Linsey Smith and Hollie Armitage. And, as has Raf noted, this is surely Tammy Beaumont’s golden moment to grab back her prized place.

The holes in the England lineup gives New Zealand a sniff of a chance, though they too are without some of their more famous faces – Amelia Kerr and captain Sophie Devine miss the first game. Suzie Bates leads the White Ferns in her absence.

Play starts at midnight GMT, I’ll be here with my toast and coffee, do join me.