England have to deal with cyclone - Anderson

James Anderson has taken 675 wickets successful 177 Tests for England

Pace bowler James Anderson says England person to "deal with the challenge" of Cyclone Gabrielle during the build-up to the archetypal Test against New Zealand.

England trained successful covered nets connected Monday successful Mount Maunganui, but the upwind began to worsen by the evening.

"Getting retired successful the middle, seeing the wicket and practising connected the tract is unlikely," Anderson told BBC Sport.

The antithetic build-up to this bid follows the commencement of England's circuit of Pakistan successful December, erstwhile the squad was deed by a microorganism that astir caused the archetypal Test to beryllium delayed by a day.

That lucifer yet went up arsenic scheduled, with England securing a memorable triumph successful Rawalpindi that acceptable them connected the mode to an unprecedented 3-0 cleanable sweep.

• Cyclone Gabrielle: Thousands near without powerfulness successful New Zealand

"As a squad you get challenges each the clip and you person to effort to woody with them," said 40-year-old Anderson.

"We dealt with what was thrown astatine america successful Pakistan precise well. We came done that and the aforesaid volition hap here."

Ahead of the day-night lucifer starting connected Thursday (01:00 GMT), England trained connected writer nets covered by a elephantine marquee.

Though Joe Root and Will Jacks chose to skip the optional signifier session, England astatine slightest person a afloat complement of players successful Mount Maunganui. Five of the New Zealand squad were missing from training.

Pace bowler Matt Henry is successful Christchurch awaiting the commencement of his archetypal child, portion opener Tom Blundell is inactive successful Wellington aft the commencement of his 2nd child.

Seamer Blair Tickner and batter Will Young were forced to thrust from Napier, portion Henry Nicholls volition not get until Tuesday aft his formation from Christchurch was cancelled.

Though the Bay Oval has a estimation for accelerated drainage, the upwind could mean the archetypal Test is simply a truncated affair.

On the circuit of Pakistan, skipper Ben Stokes said his shared doctrine with manager Brendon McCullum of risking a decision successful the pursuit of triumph could 1 time pb England to forfeit an innings successful bid to velocity up a match.

"When you spot the weather, I'm definite they are putting their heads unneurotic and reasoning of scenarios that mightiness beryllium thrown up passim the game," said Anderson.

"I wouldn't constitute thing disconnected with those two. Even arsenic players we're not rather definite what Ben and Brendon mightiness travel up with. They deliberation precise extracurricular the container and tin travel up with immoderate surprises."

England person played six erstwhile day-night Tests, losing their past five.

On Sunday, seamer Ollie Robinson called pink-ball Tests "gimmicky" and Anderson, who has played successful each but 1 of England's day-nighters, said helium "hasn't been thrilled" with them.

"It's not thing you truly look guardant to, a day-night game. I don't cognize who benefits from it," said Anderson, England's all-time starring wicket-taker.

"I'm a traditionalist. I emotion the reddish shot and deliberation that is however Test cricket should beryllium played."

There has been lone 1 erstwhile day-night Test successful New Zealand, an England decision successful 2018 erstwhile the visitors were bowled retired for 58 successful Auckland.

England bushed the Black Caps 3-0 astatine location past summer, but person not won a Test present successful 15 years and New Zealand manager Gary Stead said the hosts volition look to exploit immoderate dislike the tourists person for the pinkish ball.

"We're ever looking for thing to exploit," said Stead. "It's different, that adds an constituent of excitement not conscionable for the players, but for the crowds arsenic well."