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Chris Woakes Benched As England Announce Playing XI For 3rd Test vs New Zealand

Abhinav Tyagi

Chris Woakes - (@ECB/X.com)Chris Woakes - (@ECB/X.com)

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On Friday, December 13, England announced their playing XI for the upcoming third Test against New Zealand. As usual, the Three Lions dropped their playing XI with around 24 hours left for the 3rd and final Test. 

The Ben Stokes-led side have made one change to the playing XI. They have dropped Chris Woakes for the final game and brought in Matthew Potts. Here is England's playing XI for the 3rd Test. 

England's Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, Ben Stokes (c), Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir.

England Humiliate New Zealand Away From Home

England have been dominating the series from the first match as they handed New Zealand a 8 wickets defeat. Woakes starred in that Test and took three wickets in the first Test. Woakes was also a part of the 2nd Test and took three wickets in that match as well. 

It is likely that England want to rest Woakes for the upcoming hectic home schedule and are looking to try other options. Talking about Matthew Potts, he will be playing his first game of the series. 

It is a dead rubber match as England handed New Zealand a humiliating 323 runs defeat in the second Test. Thus, no other reason than managing Woakes' workload can be expected behind him being benched for the 3rd Test. 

Also, New Zealand are yet to reveal their playing XI for the 3rd Test and it is likely that they will only reveal their playing XI after the toss as the Seddon Park in Hamilton, New Zealand.