England v New Zealand Test Series 2026

[Durhamfootman]

Looks as if sanity has prevailed and Stokes and Atkinson back for TB with no further case.

The ECB handling of this has been utterly shambling, though not surprising really, given their previous. Pi s s up, brewery ,etc.

that might be the only thing they can organise

[alfie]

Thankfully sanity has prevailed and Stokes and Atkinson are back ...if Robinson is fit we might conceivably see complete reversal of the changes for the second match and the winning team from Lord's reunited...

Had one bowler friendly surface and one generally decent pitch which got a little harder to bat on over time : might be TB turns out very batsman oriented ? In which case the fact that several of England's seamers have had a bit of a rest , while the Kiwis haven't (although they weren't overworked yesterday !) might play in the home team's favour ? Might need a proper spinner though and for all the Rehan fans' inevitable complaints I think it most likely to be Bashir.

Third game could go either way as I think the teams are fairly evenly matched. Both bat fairly deep (or will if England make the sensible changes) but have serious problems in the upper order ; both have good pace options and not much in the spin department. Stokes as captain surely lifts England though so I think a home win is back on the cards - which it wouldn't be if they had listened to the baying hounds of media advocating further exile for the skipper.

Hope for fine weather and a good contest.

[Durhamfootman]

Might need a proper spinner though and for all the Rehan fans' inevitable complaints I think it most likely to be Bashir.

Parky for England!

I mean I laugh, but he's having a great season for Durham. Ties an end down admirably and has been involved in five, 50 run, last wicket partnerships.

Anyway.... England can't have him... he has much more important things to do

[Durhamfootman]

Matty Potts is in the middle of a very fine run of form, he can't stop taking wickets, but is not in any England conversations atm

How 'England' would it be for him to be passed over whilst red hot only to then get called up for the Pakistan series having not bowled a red ball for several weeks?

[sussexpob]

Very..DFM

I really want Stokes to have a stormer match 3

[Arthur Crabtree]

Third Test tomorrow. Not seen a starting line up, which presumably will be much changed. Or whether Robinson is fit.

[Arthur Crabtree]

This is currently the squad. They keep adding to it, but seem reluctant to release players once others return. Robbo is at least listed, so may be available. Smith is back from leave. It's the final game so there's no point retaining unfit options.... though I've just noticed Baker and Rew are no longer there.

Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'm guessing the XI from the first Test.

[Durhamfootman]

Will they do something ridiculous and pick 2 opening bowlers? Feels almost heretical if they were to

Archer will surely play, it's just a question of whether Robinson will too..... and if he does, will it be Atkinson or Tongue who misses out?

or Bash of course, but they can they really keep relying on Bethell and Brook pies helping out part time spinner Root?

is Bash even good enough to avoid asking that question

[Arthur Crabtree]

BBC says Archer was England's best player in the last Test. But he's not in the first choice attack if everyone's available. Plus his own ongoing recovery issues.

[sussexpob]

Sky reporting that a fully fit Ollie Robinson has been dropped from the squad, as other options are preferred...

Almost like the management are trying to be sacked st this point. Which they will be if we don't win this test...

[sussexpob]

Tbf I think Robbo is stupid. He's got this idea that constantly performing is going to get him picked, when he should be chinning bouncers 6 hours after his bedtime, on his self appointed holiday in Barbados, because he can't be arsed to play for England....

Even better if he can bowl 5.overs of 90 mph plus stuff 2 Meters over a batsmans head the take 50 overs off while the match fades away ...

Someone help me understand this idiocy...

[alfie]

I was actually hoping they would revert to the XI from the first match rather than retaining Archer at Robinson's expense. But not really surprised to see them going the other way : reckon the weather conditions and expected pitch were the deciding factors. Might actually be doing Robinson a favour if this does turn out to be a really tough assignment for pace bowlers : but I do wonder at the apparent belief that Archer will be better able to handle long spells in hot conditions - his record doesn't exactly reflect that.

Looks very 50/50 this deciding game. NZ probably confident after the win at The Oval ; but England with a much better looking side now they have decided to stop cutting off nose to spite face. Question might be how unsettled all this off field rubbish might have made them - though could also be inspiration for a fierce bounce back. Be a good time for the likes of Duckett and Brook to get back to performing up to their previous standards...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Someone help me understand this idiocy...

Weirdness.

[andy]

Mat Henry out with a calf strain
Glenn Phillips out with a side strain