Harry Brook announced his England XI early, leaving infinitely more questions surrounding the Black Caps as the two teams start their T20 series.

On Friday afternoon, opposing skipper Mitchell Santner gave a few clues as to how the hosts are eyeing the looming World Cup.

Saturday evening’s match in Christchurch will begin the third series in the format under new head coach Rob Walter for the hosts. Five wins on the trot and the silverware from a tri-series in Zimbabwe, also featuring South Africa, was followed by a 2-0 loss to a Mitch Marsh-led Australia earlier this month.

While Walter and his troops seek to win every encounter, those previous games and the eight remaining T20Is at home before December will also be viewed in the wider context of the 2026 World Cup starting in India and Sri Lanka in February.

The Black Caps enter the three-game series against Brendon McCullum’s tourists with a string of notable absences as Walter - and newly re-appointed selection manager Gavin Larsen - continue to work out NZ’s best team and squad. Here are five major talking points before the teams take to Hagley Oval:

Bracewell’s big chance

After acting as stand-in skipper for the series versus Australia, it would have been tough to leave the allrounder out against England.

But sticking with the offspinning/late middle-order power hitter over leggie Ish Sodhi was an interesting decision by the Black Caps' brains trust.

The return of captain Mitchell Santner gives the hosts a specialist spinner who turns the ball away from the right-handers, easing Sodhi’s exit from the current squad.

Santner and Bracewell have played in the same XI in T20Is on 22 occasions, and it seems likely that NZ will employ two slow bowlers at most World Cup venues.

Pace stocks are running low.

Ben Sears became the latest fast bowler to be choppered into NZ Cricket’s MASH unit, after tearing a left hamstring injury during training last week.

He’ll be out for a month, joining fellow quicks Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne and Will O’Rourke out of action, with the latter unlikely to feature during the home international programme leading up to Christmas.

It’s a testament to the current depth that the squad can still turn out an attack comprising Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson and Zak Foulkes.

The spectre of the Ashes

If you follow the English media coverage of cricket, you’d be forgiven for not knowing this series exists.

It’s not the fault of skipper Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Jacob Bethell and Brydon Carse that they’ll constantly be asked about the upcoming test series against Australia over the next week.

That quartet is too good to be distracted from their tasks against the Black Cap, however.

Williamson waits

After missing the tour of Zimbabwe and the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, we were all expecting Kane Williamson to return to the national side as the World Cup draws closer.

But after discussions, head coach Rob Walter said the former skipper wasn’t ready due to a ‘minor medical issue’ for the shortest format, and whether he will play another T20 remains unsolved.

That should be decided before the West Indies arrive next month, but in the meantime, Tim Robinson should relish another opportunity to shine, as he did versus Australia at Bay Oval.

With Rachin Ravindra back at No.3, his Wellington team-mate’s initial chance is set to come in place of Devon Conway as Tim Seifert’s opening partner.

Plenty to prove

Left-handed middle-order batter Mark Chapman has made just two major contributions in his last 17 innings, while rookie Bevon Jacobs - left out of the XI for the opening match - is seeking another notable knock to build on the promise of his debut against South Africa.

Pace bowler Jamieson registered a century versus Australia, conceding 100 runs with just the sole wicket from his eight overs spread over two games.

Black Caps XI

Tim Seifert (wk), Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy. Remaining squad members: Devon Conway, Bevon Jacobs, Zak Foulkes.

England XI

Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (captain), Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Jordan Cox, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood. Remaining squad members: Zak Crawley, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Sonny Baker.