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'How did that get there?!' - Bethell's brilliant catch removes Latham
Cricket Correspondent at The OvalPublished17 June 2026, 19:04 BSTUpdated 9 minutes agoSecond 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
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.
'Travesty' if Stokes doesn't captain England again - Vaughan
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.
