Chris Woakes and Sam Curran in fight for single Test place on England's tour of New Zealand

Neither Woakes nor Sam Curran made a notable case for inclusion during a warm-up game at Cobham Oval, with former Blackcaps Under 19 batsman Finn Allen making a century before retiring

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Chris Woakes expects England's bowlers to get limited assistance from the pitches in New Zealand when the two-Test series between the countries begins next week.

England found life in the field tough going on Wednesday as an inexperienced New Zealand XI made 285 for 5 in response to the tourists' 376 for 5 in their two-day warm-up match at Cobham Oval.

Neither Woakes nor Sam Curran - who are vying against each other for a place in the England side - made a notable case for inclusion after being given the new ball by captain Joe Root, with former Blackcaps Under 19 batsman Finn Allen making a century before retiring.

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Sam Curran in action in New Zealand

And the Warwickshire allrounder does not anticipate conditions changing much for the two Tests in Tauranga and Hamilton.

"It was a pretty flat pitch. A couple nipped with the new ball and after that it hasn’t really done much all day," he said.

"You look at it at the start of a game and it was very, very green but if anything it just held it together and made it carry even better.

"I think that’s what we’re expecting: good surfaces, they’ll start green and just get better and better.

ENGLAND HUB

"I don’t generally see pitches out here that deteriorate too much. It will be hard work with the Kookaburra ball but we’ll just have to find a way."

Woakes accepted that he and Curran are competing for a single place, with Ben Stokes available to bowl once again.

"The make-up of the team is more than likely going to go back to the way it was. I suppose there’s one slot there," he said.

"I wouldn’t think I’m a nose ahead. I think it’s a dangerous place to be as a player, especially when it could go either way.

"It’s a call that I’m not going to be able to make but I’ll be trying to make it as hard for them as possible by trying to put in performances."

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