Members of England's Barmy Army who did not travel to India for the seminal Test series win in the winter are forgiven if they saved their pennies for the trip to New Zealand. Because on Wednesday England played at Queenstown, one of the world's most beautiful cricket.
As the pictures illustrate, Queenstown Events Centre Ground is as idyllic as it is stunning. If an English village cricket team's ground was to be plucked and dropped in a stunning location, most would opt for Queenstown.
Opened in 1997, the ground is located on Queenstown Lakes District Council–owned land, between the foot of the Remarkables and the shores of Lake Wakatipu. The nearby Queenstown International Airport's Runway threshold adds to the surroundings' aura, boasting jaw-dropping views of large aircraft taking off and landing.
Ian Bell wasn't busy plane-spotting however, as he made good on his promise to start as he means to go on ahead of the first Test next week with an unbeaten hundred on day one of England's only warm-up match.
The tourists made their intention clear to persevere with Nick Compton as Alastair Cook's Test opening partner, by deploying him rather than Joe Root in that position at the Queenstown Events Centre ground, but it was Bell (127no) who underpinned a total of 357 for seven.
Cook (60), Matt Prior and Root - in the number six spot, where he made a half-century on Test debut in December - also all made significant contributions.
Queenstown Cricket Ground
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A Qantas jet takes off above the cricketers during day one of the four day warm up International cricket match between New Zealand and England played at the Queenstown Event Center in Queenstown on February 27, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(02 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: England captain Alastair Cook opens the batting in the first over during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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The Remarkables mountain range stands tall behind the cricketers (C) during day one of the four day warm up international cricket match between New Zealand and England played at the Queenstown Event Center in Queenstown on February 27, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(04 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: General view of play as England bat in the foothills of the Remarkables mountain range during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CRICKET-NZL-ENG(05 of30)
The Remarkables mountain range stands tall behind the cricketers during day one of the four day warm up international cricket match between New Zealand and England played at the Queenstown Event Center on February 27, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(06 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: General view of play as England bat in the foothills of the Remarkables mountain range during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(07 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Fans watch on as England bat in the foothills of the Remarkables mountain range during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(08 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: General view of play as England bat in the foothills of the Remarkables mountain range during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(09 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Fans watch on as England bat in the foothills of the Remarkables mountain range during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(10 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: General view of play as England bat in the foothills of the Remarkables mountain range during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(11 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: General view of play as England bat in the foothills of the Remarkables mountain range during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(12 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: A general view during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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An Air New Zealand jet takes off above the cricketers during day one of the four day warm up International cricket match between New Zealand and England played at the Queenstown Event Center in Queenstown on February 27, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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An Air New Zealand jet takes off above the cricketers during day one of the four day warm up International cricket match between New Zealand and England played at the Queenstown Event Center in Queenstown on February 27, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(15 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Joe Root of England bats during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(16 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Ian Bell of England salutes the crowd after reaching his century during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(17 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Joe Root of England bats during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(18 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Matt Prior of England bats during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(19 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Ian Bell of England plays to the offside during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(20 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Ian Bell of England looks on during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(21 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Ian Bell of England celebrates 100 during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(22 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Ian Bell of England celebrates 100 during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(23 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Ian Bell of England celebrates 100 during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(24 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Tom Latham of the New Zealand XI fields during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(25 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Ian Bell of England plays to the onside during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(26 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Ian Bell of England bats during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(27 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Joe Root of England bats during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(28 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Neil Wagner of New Zealand XI bowls during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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New Zealand's James Neesham (C), Dean Brownlie (L) and Jeetan Patel celebrate England's Matt Prior (not pictured) being caught out during day one of the four day warm up international cricket match between New Zealand and England played at the Queenstown Event Center on February 27, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand XI v England - Practice Match: Day 1(30 of30)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 27: Ian Bell of England plays to the offside during the International tour match between New Zealand XI and England at Queenstown Events Centre on February 27, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)