England will go into the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval with a lot of cutting and chopping to the side, two confirmed debutants and Joe Root back in charge. Jordan Cox and Sonny Baker have been named in the XI, while James Rew remains on standby as wicketkeeping cover for Jamie Smith.
The changes follow a turbulent build-up for England after captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were left out of the squad amid an investigation into an alleged breach of curfew after the Lord's Test. Ollie Robinson has also been ruled out with a knee injury, leaving Brendon McCullum to rebuild both the batting balance and the pace attack.
Root's return to the captaincy gives England an experienced hand during a complicated week.
The former
Test skipper will lead a side that includes several players still early in their international careers, with England choosing pace depth over the security of a specialist spinner for the match starting on 17 June.
Jordan Cox gets long-awaited England Test debut
Cox's selection comes after an impressive response to his latest call-up. The Essex batter made a double hundred against Leicestershire at better than a run a ball, strengthening his case at a time when England needed another middle-order option. He has been picked to bat at No 7, adding power and flexibility below Jamie Smith.
The debut is also a second chance after frustration last year. Cox had been lined up for a Test opportunity in New Zealand in late 2024 when Smith was away on paternity leave, but a broken thumb in the nets ended that prospect. This time, England have chosen him ahead of Rew for the batting role.
McCullum said Rew remained firmly in England's plans, but explained why Cox fitted this particular selection. "James Rew was obviously our back-up batter in the squad, but that was very much to cover that kind-of top six role," he said. "Having to make some changes, Jordan Cox was obviously over at the IPL and we wanted to see him come back and see what he could do before thrusting him into that role. "
Smith is still expected to keep wicket at his home ground, despite his second child being due this week. Rew, the Somerset left-hander, is in line to take the gloves if Smith is unavailable. That leaves England with one moving part even after naming their XI.
Sonny Baker joins England's fast-bowling lineup
Baker's inclusion gives England another high-pace option in a seam attack that also features Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Matt Fisher. The Hampshire fast bowler has pushed into contention after strong domestic form and will now make his Test debut in a side built around speed, movement and aggression.
England have not selected a specialist spinner for The Oval Test. That decision places a heavy workload on the four seamers, but it also reflects the route England have been taking since moving beyond the long era of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. McCullum has repeatedly spoken about widening the pool of fast bowlers.
"Two years ago, when Stuart Broad and James Anderson had moved on, we knew we wanted to build a battery of fast bowlers," McCullum said. "I look at that bowling line-up we have this week and it is super exciting. "
The head coach also compared Baker's energy and pace to Mark Wood. "If Sonny is able to get some early success, I think the crowd is going to get behind him, I think the country is going to get behind him," McCullum said. "He's got good air speed, he swings the ball, he's got great skills, but he charges in and has got wild celebrations. "
For Baker, the Test debut follows his England white-ball bow last year. The challenge now is different. Test cricket will examine his control, spell management and ability to return later in the day, not just his pace through the air. The Oval surface can reward seamers, but only if they stay disciplined for long periods.
Root leads after Stokes' departure
Archer's return is another key part of the selection. He missed the first Test but now comes back into a pace unit that suddenly looks very different. Fisher, meanwhile, is set for his first international appearance since making his Test debut in the West Indies in March 2022.
The batting order also carries a fresh look. Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay are listed at the top, followed by Jacob Bethell, Root, Harry Brook, Smith, and Cox. It is an XI with talent, but also one asking several players to handle unfamiliar pressure in a high-profile Test.
The absence of Stokes changes England's rhythm beyond the captaincy.
His role as a batter, bowler and tactical driver is hard to replace directly. Root offers calm authority, but England will need collective leadership from senior players, especially if New Zealand force them into long spells in the field.
England's XI: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root (captain), Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Jordan Cox, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Matt Fisher and Sonny Baker.
