England Name 2 Debutants In Playing XI For 2nd Test Vs New Zealand

England name playing XI [Source: AFP]

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has named England’s playing XI for the upcoming second Test against New Zealand. The selection committee and the team management have confirmed two debutants for the match, while Joe Root will return to lead the side in the absence of a controversy-struck Ben Stokes. 

As confirmed earlier, express paceman Jofra Archer will also be making his return to the playing XI for England after missing the series-opener at Lord’s last week. Archer recently played the IPL 2026 season in India for the Rajasthan Royals franchise. 

Jordan Cox and Sonny Baker to make Test debuts in second match

England wicketkeeper-batter Jordan Cox and Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Baker will both be making their Test debuts in the upcoming second match of the series against New Zealand. 

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While Jordan has previously played three ODIs and six T20I matches for England, Baker has represented the national side in just two white-ball games. However, Baker last played any form of international cricket for England way back in September 2025 last year during a match in Ireland. 

For Cox, his inclusion in the second Test playing XI marks his return to England’s international setup after a gap of nearly eight months. 

England name four changes in squad after Ben Stokes controversy

Apart from naming two debutants in the England playing XI, the ECB has confirmed four changes overall in the group for the second Test of the series against New Zealand. While captain Ben Stokes and fellow all-rounder Gus Atkinson have been excluded from the squad owing to their involvement in last week’s nightclub incident, Lord’s ‘Player of the Match’ Ollie Robinson was also taken off as a precautionary measure.

The speedster was experiencing knee soreness and was taken for a scan on Saturday, June 13. Henry Crocombe was called up into the England squad as his replacement, but the speedster failed to make it to the playing XI for the second Test. 

Ace spinner Shoaib Bashir was also removed from the England playing XI, with the ECB naming debutants Jordan Cox and Sonny Baker, as well as recalling Jofra Archer and Matthew Fisher for their respective Test returns. Here is a look at England’s complete playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand.

England playing XI for 2nd Test vs NZ: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matt Fisher, Emilio Gay, Jamie Smith (wk) and Josh Tongue. 

England take 1-0 lead, The Oval to host second Test

Under the leadership of Ben Stokes, England won the first Test at Lord’s by 115 runs earlier this month to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. 

Despite the result, England remained at number seven on the WTC 2025-27 points table, while New Zealand slipped from second to number four on the nine-team standings.

The second Test will be hosted by The Oval in London between June 17 and June 21. 

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