England vs. New Zealand - Second Test prediction, squads, start time, Oval pitch lowdown

England volition beryllium looking to enactment their off-field issues down them erstwhile they look New Zealand astatine the Oval successful the 2nd Test of the series.

England are 1-0 up successful the bid aft completing a 115-run triumph connected a mediocre Lord's transportation successful the archetypal Test past week, but they person subsequently suffered a bid of setbacks. 

Match preview

It appeared arsenic though everything was starting to look up for England aft their triumph astatine Lord's, which alleviated immoderate of the unit connected caput manager Brendon McCullum, skipper Ben Stokes and managing manager Rob Key pursuing a disastrous Ashes circuit implicit the winter.

However, Stokes and accelerated bowler Gus Atkinson were past progressive successful an incidental astatine a nightclub successful the aboriginal hours of the morning, which saw a subordinate of England's information unit get deed by a Saracens rugby player.

England were nether a strict midnight curfew owed to a bid of incidents during the wintertime and Stokes and Atkinson person been dropped for breaking it, pending an probe into the full incident.

Seamer Ollie Robinson has besides been ruled retired of the 2nd Test with a sore close knee, meaning England person made a full of 4 changes for the squad that won astatine Lord's.

Jofra Archer has been named successful the XI aft missing the archetypal Test pursuing his engagement astatine the IPL, portion Jordan Cox is acceptable to marque his debut.

Sussex seamer Henry Crocombe was a precocious call-up, but helium has not made the squad with Sonny Baker and Matthew Fisher coming successful for Robinson and Shoaib Bashir.

Joe Root volition regenerate Stokes arsenic captain, with vice-captain Harry Brook overlooked for the role.

New Zealand, meanwhile, volition person to marque astatine slightest 1 alteration aft their all-time starring runscorer, Kane Williamson, announced his status with contiguous effect.

The quality came arsenic a astonishment fixed the bid is ongoing, but Williamson said it had go wide to him that it was the "right time" to locomotion away.

"I've ever felt a beardown thrust and hunger for planetary cricket, and I instrumentality pridefulness successful knowing I've fixed it my each successful each lucifer I've played for New Zealand," helium said. "Continuing with thing little wouldn't beryllium close and I consciousness fortunate to measurement distant connected my ain terms."

Will Young has been added to the squad arsenic Williamson's replacement and arrived successful London connected Sunday up of the Oval Test.

New Zealand are besides hopeful that opener Devon Conway volition beryllium disposable aft helium flew location to Wellington to beryllium with his woman for the commencement of their 2nd child.

Seamer Matt Henry is besides a uncertainty aft helium suffered from backmost spasms during the archetypal Test, with skipper Tom Latham stating that his fittingness is simply a "day-by-day case". 

Squad News

© Imago / AAP

England person stuck with the aforesaid apical six from Lord's, with Emilio Gay and Ben Duckett continuing arsenic the caller opening partnership.

Jacob Bethell volition bat astatine three, followed by interim skipper Root and vice-captain Brook, portion wicketkeeper Jamie Smith continues astatine six contempt the information his partner is acceptable to springiness commencement to their 2nd child.

McCullum stated that Cox was picked up of James Rew owed to his "power and his rounded game", portion spinning all-rounder Rehan Ahmed was overlooked arsenic a imaginable replacement for Stokes.

McCullum besides hailed Baker, stating: "He's got bully aerial speed, helium swings the ball, he's got large skills, but helium charges successful and he's got chaotic celebrations and you tin conscionable spot that cricket is what helium wants to do."

New Zealand are apt to bring successful Henry Nicholls for Williamson, portion Young could regenerate Conway astatine the apical of the bid if helium is unavailable.

The Kiwis are hopeful that Henry volition beryllium acceptable for the 2nd Test, with Blair Tickner and Zak Foulkes primed arsenic imaginable replacements.

Kyle Jamieson and Nathan Smith volition beryllium looking to proceed their bully signifier aft they some picked up five-wicket hauls astatine Lord's and they are portion of a fearsome seam attack.

Will O'Rourke lone picked up 4-71 successful the match, but helium is simply a fearsome competitor, 6ft 8in and susceptible of regularly hitting speeds of 90mph+.

England squad:

Joe Root (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox (wk), Henry Crocombe, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew (wk), Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue

New Zealand squad:

Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Will Young

When volition the archetypal England vs New Zealand Test start?

The lucifer is scheduled to get underway astatine 11:00am section clip connected Wednesday morning.

Oval transportation update

The Oval hosted the archetypal Test lucifer successful England backmost successful 1880 and has gone connected to signifier a full of 108, putting it 4th connected the all-time list.

In caller years, the Oval has been thing of a batting paradise, arsenic illustrated by Dan Lawrence's exploits for Surrey successful their gully with Hampshire past week.

Lawrence smashed 218 disconnected 190 balls successful the archetypal innings and 101 disconnected 64 balls successful the second, portion Dom Sibley, Ollie Pope, Delano Potgieter, Jake Lehmann, Nick Gubbins, and Ali Orr besides made notable contributions with the bat.

Spin has besides played little of a relation astatine the Oval, with Surrey regularly going into games relying connected all-rounders similar Lawrence oregon Will Jacks alternatively of a specializer spinner.

It is besides worthy noting that England person mislaid their past 2 Tests astatine the venue, suffering a six-run decision to India past twelvemonth and an eight-wicket nonaccomplishment to Sri Lanka successful 2024.

We say: England to win

Although the absences of Stokes, Atkinson and Robinson could person a large impact, England should inactive person capable to get the win.

New Zealand's batting was peculiarly mediocre past week, with lone Conway and Glenn Phillips passing 18, and Williamson's status further compounds things.