Jordan Cox, Sonny Baker to debut in Oval Test

Wicketkeeper-batter Jordan Cox and pacer Sonny Baker will make their debut against New Zealand at The Oval on Wednesday, June 17, after being named in England's XI for the second Test two days out of the game.

England have been forced into making four changes in wake of the ongoing investigation into a nightclub incident involving regular captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson following the Lord's Test.

Also making his return to the XI is pacer Jofra Archer, whose inclusion provides England a much-needed boost following Atkinson's absence and Ollie Robinson's knee injury that has ruled him out of this Test.

Spinner Shoaib Bashir has also been left out, with England opting for a four-man pace attack that includes Surrey's Matthew Fisher, who will play his second Test after making his debut in the Caribbean in 2022. Fisher will get a chance to make a mark on his home ground and has picked up 18 matches from six Championship games this season at an average of 35.72.

England XI for 2nd Test: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue

Cox is set to slot in at No. 7 in place of Stokes and has been picked ahead of James Rew, who was named the backup gloveman for the first Test while Cox completed his IPL stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Cox slammed a 201-ball 204 for Essex in the ongoing round of the County Championship against Leicestershire. He has also featured in 3 ODIs and 6 T20Is.

Baker, who made his ODI and T20I debut in the 2025 summer, forced himself into the Test squad following a strong start to the County Championship Division One season for Hampshire. He has picked up 22 wickets from 6 Championship matches this season at 24.86 apiece.

Incidentally, the aforementioned Caribbean tour marked Joe Root's last at the helm of England's Test team until he answered an SOS call to step in while Stokes was ruled out of the Oval Test. England currently lead the 3-match series 1-0, with the series part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.