England make good start despite Stokes’ absence

Second Rothesay Test, The Kia Oval (day one of five)

New Zealand 291-7: Blundell 51, Phillips 49*; Bethell 2-8, Baker 2-63

England: Yet to bat

England won the toss

Scorecard

England attempted to move on from the Ben Stokes controversy with a solid opening day of the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval.

Captain Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson are unavailable pending an investigation into an incident in a London nightclub following England’s win in the first Test.

Without them, an England team captained by Joe Root, with five changes from the first Test and including three debutants, worked hard to leave New Zealand 291-7 at the close on a true batting surface.

The efforts justified Root’s decision to field first on a damp, humid morning. Sonny Baker, one of the trio of new caps, picked up 2-63 and Jofra Archer was unlucky to claim only one wicket – he bowled a rapid and exhilarating spell late in the day.

Glenn Phillips was the unfortunate recipient of Archer’s thunderbolts, somehow surviving to reach 49 not out. At the other end, Jacob Bethell burgled two wickets with his left-arm spin.

Daryl Mitchell, who was dropped on two, made 44 and Tom Blundell 51, but a number of the tourists’ top order were guilty of wasting good starts.

Following the extraordinary events since England won the first Test, the beginning of this match at least gave the home side some respite from the off-field chaos.

The fresh faces brought an energy to the England team, particularly when Baker, wicketkeeper James Rew and batter Jordan Cox were presented with their caps before play.

Root’s decision to field first surprised no-one. Rain delayed play by half an hour, the atmosphere was muggy and the pitch coloured a light green. Although the ball moved in the air, it became clear the conditions were good for batting, a contrast to the challenge of the Lord’s pitch used for a first Test that was completed in 166 overs.

In his first Test as a captain for more than four years, Root was busy, directing his players from first slip, often in consultation with vice-captain Harry Brook. Root was aggressive, with plenty of catchers in place for most of the day. At one point, Brook bowled his medium-pace with eight men around the bat.

England needed some fortune for most of their wickets, and Phillips put the pitch into context before his ordeal against Archer.

Bethell’s two late wickets were a bonus – more gifts from New Zealand – leaving England in a position from where they can win the series.

With Stokes and Atkinson unavailable, and Ollie Robinson injured, it meant England were missing three of the seamers that won them the first Test.

Without them, the inexperienced pace attack was led by the returning Archer, playing his first Test since the third match of the Ashes series in December.

An opening over averaging 90mph was a sign of things to come. He touched 92mph in his first spell and before lunch had New Zealand captain Tom Latham well caught at gully by a flying Bethell.

While Archer’s pyrotechnics bookended the day, 23-year-old Baker provided the spark in the middle. Occasionally wayward, he produced a lifter to have Rachin Ravindra caught at gully for his maiden Test wicket, leaping into the air with delight. Mitchell’s miscue to mid-on after tea was a donation of a second wicket.

Blundell and Phillips added 75, threatening to take control, when Archer launched into his thrilling spell. He hit Phillips on the chest and his hostility was surely a contributing factor in Blundell swiping Bethell’s left-arm spin to mid-wicket.

The figures of Archer’s eight-over spell – no wicket for 22 runs – do not begin to tell the story of the drama. That Bethell got his second wicket via Nathan Smith top-edging a full toss was almost absurd.

New Zealand had to deal with their own upheaval between Tests, following the sudden retirement of their all-time leading run-scorer Kane Williamson. Without the ballast he provided at number three, the Black Caps put themselves in trouble.

Opener Devon Conway travelled back to New Zealand after the first Test for the birth of his child, and his return to London resulted in a feather down the leg side to give Matthew Fisher a second England wicket four years after his first.

After Latham was turned around by Archer, Williamson’s replacement Henry Nicholls, played on off Josh Tongue. When Baker removed Ravindra, New Zealand were trouble at 107-4.

But Mitchell and Blundell reprised the partnership that was so successful for the Black Caps here four years ago, helped by Mitchell being put down at leg gully at Cox off Fisher.

Mitchell added himself to the list of tame dismissals, but Phillips arrived with intent, punching the ball through the off side.

As Archer cranked up the pace, Phillips spent plenty of time on the floor, ducking and diving. He showed bravery and technique, and his continued presence could yet get New Zealand to a strong total.