Eng vs NZ, 2nd Test – England choose to bowl, Nicholls comes in for New Zealand

by @Editor June 17, 2026

written by @Editor June 17, 2026

Toss England chose to bowl vs New Zealand

Luck was with Joe Root as he tossed up as England Test captain for the first time in more than four years. The coin came down in his favour and a reshaped home side was given the opportunity to bowl first on a muggy morning at The Oval against New Zealand, where the start was delayed by half-an-hour following morning drizzle.

There was a green tinge to the surface, although pitches at The Oval have tended to be batter-friendly in recent times. After a chaotic build-up, with England making five changes from the side that won at Lord’s, Root was keen for his team to get out on the field. On the new faces, which included Test debuts for Jordan Cox, James Rew and Sonny Baker, he said there was a “huge amount of skill and excitement around what they can deliver”.

Tom Latham, New Zealand’s captain, would also have bowled first, he said, but added: “It looks a good surface, hopefully we can start well.” He confirmed their one expected change, with Henry Nicholls coming for the newly retired Kane Williamson.

England had announced their XI beforehand, although a late rejig was necessitated by Jamie Smith going on paternity leave after the birth of his daughter. That meant three debutants in the men’s Test team for the first time since 2017, and as many as five players with one cap or fewer (Emilio Gay and Matt Fisher being the other two) – something not seen for England since the 1993 Ashes.

In the absence of Ben Stokes, who alongside Gus Aktinson was stood down for disciplinary reasons, Root was named “interim” captain of the side, resuming a role he last fulfilled at Grenada in April 2022, and with no survivors left from that XI.

New Zealand had one only enforced change to make from Lord’s, though it was a sizeable hole to fill. Nicholls, who has only made two Test appearances since late 2023 but did score an unbeaten 150 on his most recent outing, came in as a straight swap for Williamson at No. 3. Matt Henry, whose contribution to the first Test was limited by a back spasm, was fit to keep his place.

“It’s been an emotional week since we got the news, he leaves a fantastic legacy for the group,” Latham said of Williamson’s abrupt retirement after the first Test. “Disappointed not to have him here now but we understand his decision.”

England: 1 Emilio Gay, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Harry Brook, 6 James Rew (wk), 7 Jordan Cox, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Josh Tongue, 10 Matt Fisher, 11 Sonny Baker

New Zealand: 1 Tom Latham (capt), 2 Devon Conway, 3 Henry Nicholls, 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Glenn Phillips, 8 Nathan Smith, 9 Kyle Jamieson, 10 Will O’Rourke, 11 Matt Henry

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