Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

Opener Hazratullah Zazai is a clean striker of the ball and if he gets his eye in these short boundaries are not going to be a problem for him at all.

Good comeback from Matt Henry as he induces a prod outside off stump from Hazratullah but it goes through to Tom Latham behind the stumps.

Four more.

This time it's a bit streaky as a top edge from Hazratullah flies over the slip cordon.

And again! There's nothing streaky about that as the left-hander pummels a pull to the mid-wicket boundary.

Afghanistan are off and running.

It's short and a leggy from Henry and Hazratullah just helps it on its way to the fine leg boundary.

Matt Henry, who has taken seven wickets in New Zealand's first two games, will get us under way.

Image source, Getty Images

There's a change at the top of the order for Afghanistan today after they dealt a big blow earlier this week with wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with a knee injury.

Since the 2015 World Cup, Shahzad is his country's second highest one-day international run-scorer with 1,843.

"Obviously it's a big loss of our side," captain Gulbadin Naib said.

"Shahzad is a great player for Afghanistan.

"He is very energetic.

"Also in the dressing room he's very funny. Also he entertains every time the team members. So we miss a lot of things of him especially in the ground even.

"I am really upset for him."

The national anthems are done and dusted and the Afghan openers Noor Ali Zadran and Hazratullah Zazai are getting padded up while the New Zealanders have their huddle.

People are taking photos of the national anthems. Has that always been a thing?

The two sides are just making their way onto the outfield ready for the national anthems.

Over in Cardiff, England are set for a big total against Bangladesh - they are 273-3 with 10.3 overs left.

Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler are at the crease for the hosts. Follow live text commentary and clips of the conclusion of the hosts' innings here.

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

New Zealand have had three of the easier sides to open up - that's fair to say. They can ease their way into the tournament but it means that they have a tough run coming up.

They would certainly expect today to put together a performance. The bowlers were more than adequate against Sri Lanka, the slight quesion is the fifth bowler as Jimmy Neesham has been leaking runs.

He needs a good performance.

Image source, PA

Taunton is traditionally a high-scoring ground with short straight boundaries.

In the four One-Day Cup games this season the team batting first scored 358, 353 (off 39 overs), 216 and 289.

While the average score in ODI's at the ground is 312.

Will we get runs today? Let's hope so.

Jason Roy has just fallen for a superb 153 for England in Cardiff.

Here's how he reached his century and clattered into umpire Joel Wilson in the process.

Well worth a watch.

BBC Test Match Special

Test Match Special as usual will be bringing you ball-by-ball commentary at Taunton today.

The team consists of Dan Norcross, Simon Mann, Bryan Waddle and they are joined by Jeremy Coney, Ramiz Raja and Pommie Mbangwa.

Tune in now using the audio icon at the top of the page.

There is a slight chance that we could get the odd shower but we should have more than enough clear weather to get a result today.

Adam Williams
BBC Sport at Taunton

Image source, BBC Sport

Welcome to Somerset where the World Cup has touched down for the first time.

After an absolute deluge with the weather yesterday in these parts, I'm pleased to report that there is sunshine between the clouds and the stiff breeze.

Feels a bit more like early April than early June, but organisers here are delighted to report that provided there is no more rain before the scheduled start, we'll be getting started on time in front of a sell-out crowd in Cider Country!

So, those three Afghanistan changes see Noor Ali Zadran, Ikram Ali Khil and Aftab Alam replace Mohammad Shahzad, Dawlat Zadran and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Noor Ali is Mujeeb's uncle. There could be some awkward conversations in that household today.

New Zealand, as expected, are unchanged.

Afghanistan: Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Gulbadin Naib (c), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Ikram Ali Khil (wk), Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan.

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.

Naib has confirmed Afghanistan have three changes, one of them enforced with wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad out of the rest of the tournament, but he has forgot the name of one of the players coming in...

Full team news shortly.

Afghanistan captain Gulbadin Naib: "I wanted to bat first. It looks a good wicket. I don't think it will change much over the course of the day.

"We just need to play positive cricket and have more of the good moments we've done so far."