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ENG vs NZ | 2nd Test Preview: Dress rehearsal for New Zealand ahead of WTC showdown

New Zealand are left with their last assignment before they head to Southampton where they are slated to play India in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship. The Blackcaps take on England in the second and final Test of the series in Birmingham from Thursday (June 10, 2021). 

The first encounter between the two sides ended in a draw at Lord’s after rain played spoilsport on Day 3. But despite the draw, both sides had a lot to take away from the game. Devon Conway who made his Test debut for New Zealand in this match notched up a double-century in the first innings to become only the second Kiwi player to achieve the feat. 

While the likes of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor failed to leave a mark, Conway and Henry Nicholls showed some character and played crucial knocks to get their team out of a tricky situation. Nicholls scored 61 during the course. 

While the New Zealand batting witnessed some heroics in the first innings, pacer Tim Southee too showed his mettle. The right-arm bowler picked up six wickets in the first innings to go on the Honours Boards at Lord’s for the second time. 

Although the visiting team did have an impressive outing with both bat and ball in the first clash the hosts too had some names in the ranks who played an important role in helping their side manage a draw. Opener Rory Burns struck a super hundred while Ollie Robinson who was capped for the first time in Tests for England returned with seven wickets in two innings and also chipped in a 101-ball 42 in the first innings to stop it from falling away. 

The bowler though won’t be a part of the English lineup in the second Test as he has been suspended by the ECB for his racist and sexist tweets as a teenager, which resurfaced on social media, just after he made his debut. Another England fast bowler who was pretty lethal with his pace was Mark Wood in the first match. He peppered the batsmen with short deliveries creating a lot of problems for them. Wood scalped a total of four wickets in two innings out of which three came in the first innings. 

Match details

Date: June 10-14, 2021 (Thursday-Monday).

Time: 11:00 AM (Local/ BST), 3:30 PM (IST), and 10:00 AM (IST).

Venue: Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham.

Weather Report

The weather in Birmingham is expected to be pleasant with minimal chances of showers on Day 1 and Day 5. 

Pitch Report

The track at Edgbaston would give an edge to the fast bowlers especially in the initial part of the game.  The batsmen might face some trouble with the new ball. Nevertheless, they still have something for themselves in the kitty. The carry can help them score runs once the batsmen get their eye in. However, the English team called in Dom Bess as Jack Leach's cover in the squad, suggesting that there might be spin and turn on offer in the latter part of the game. 

Team News

England 

The home side will not have the services of Ollie Robinson for this game as he was suspended by the board. Talking about Bess' entry into the side, English coach Chris Silverwood said, "If Jack was to feature, we would need back-up for him in terms of concussion replacements and things like that."

With a packed calendar ahead of them, the England team management would be looking to make a couple of changes here and there to rest the players in this match. 

New Zealand

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson had sustained an elbow injury in the first match and was monitored by the medical staff. He has now been ruled out of the second clash to get some rest for his 'irritated' left elbow, NZC confirmed. 

"It's not an easy decision for Kane to have to miss a Test, but we think it's the right one," coach Gary Stead said. "He's had an injection in his elbow to relieve the irritation he's been experiencing when he bats and a period of rest and rehabilitation will help maximise his recovery.”

"The decision has been made very much with the ICC World Test Championship Final at Southampton in mind and we are confident he will be ready for that match starting on June 18." 

Apart from Williamson, spinner Mitchell Santner has been ruled out of the second Test as well with a split left index finger. Fast bowler Trent Boult who missed the first match is back and available for selection. 

With an important fixture slated to take place in a week’s time, New Zealand would also be looking to rest their key players and try some new combinations in this final Test. 

Probable XI

England: Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root (c), Daniel Lawrence, Ollie Pope, James Bracey (wk), Jack Leach, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson

New Zealand: Tom Latham (C), Devon Conway, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner.

Fantasy XI

Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Ollie Pope, Joe Root (C), Colin de Grandhomme, BJ Watling, Trent Boult, Tim Southee (vc), Mark Wood, James Anderson, Ajaz Patel

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Farokh Engineer astonished to see British PM coming in support of Ollie Robinson

Former Indian wicket-keeper and a prominent name in the County Championship circuit, Farokh Engineer expressed his utter disbelief while getting to know the fact that England Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed his disapproval after Ollie Robinson was suspended by the England Cricket Board (ECB) after racist and sexist tweets of the fast bowler from 2012 surfaced on the internet. “I am reading in the papers about Boris Johnson. I think it is absolute rubbish for a prime minister to lend his name to such a statement. Punish the fellow (Robinson). I think the ECB has done absolutely the right thing by suspending him. He has committed an error of judgement, he should pay for it. It will be a deterrent,” Engineer was quoted as saying by the Indian Express from Manchester. Lanky speedster Ollie Robinson made his Test debut against New Zealand last week and had a memorable outing in his very first match. He bagged 4 wickets in the first innings following it up with three more in the second innings. However his impressive debut was overshadowed by the string of racist and sexist tweets which Robinson had posted almost a decade ago. His tweets read, “My new Muslim friend is the bomb; “I wonder if Asian People put smileys like this ¦) #racist;” and “The guy next to me on the train definitely has Ebola.” Reacting to same Britain’s sports minister Oliver Dowden had tweeted that ECB went over the top by suspending Robinson as those tweets were almost a decade old. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that the PM is supportive of Dowden’s views. Engineer feels that ECB has taken the correct step by suspending him despite the fact that the tweet was almost a decade old. Engineer who is a senior vice president of Lancashire stated that ECB has set the right example as if they start getting away with it, they can literally come up with any comments against the Asian. Engineer who played for Lancashire between 1968 and 1976 himself faced casual racism when he first moved to England in 1966-67 and soon started plying his trade for Lancashire. “It is a real shame when you say he was a youngster who was 18 (when he tweeted). It is an age at which an individual is responsible. If they (cricketers) can get away with it, then things would be worse. People will make all sorts of comments against us (Asians). It has to be nipped in the bud. To talk about Asians like that in such a context or make other comments reflects on the upbringing,” Engineer said.

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Trent Boult returns for second Test vs Eng, Williamson's injury being monitored: Stead

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson had sustained an elbow injury during the second Test against England at Lord’s and is now being monitored by the medical team. The decision on Williamson’s availability would be taken on Wednesday (June 9, 2021). Apart from this, spinner Mitchell Santner has been ruled out after he sustained a cut in his left index finger. Fast bowler Trent Boult will be available for the selection for the second encounter scheduled to begin on June 10 in Birmingham. ‘BlackCaps’, the official twitter handle of New Zealand Cricket posted a video of coach Gary Stead who gave the update regarding the same. The Kane Williamson-led side is battling it out against England in a two-match Test series. The first match at Lord’s ended in a draw after rain played spoilsport on one of the days. But both the teams had a lot of positives to take from this game. New Zealand debutant Devon Conway scored a fine double-hundred while pacer Tim Southee scalped a six-for for the side in the first innings. Southee got his name on the Honours board for the second time. For England, it was opener Rory Burns who took on the visitors and notched up a hundred in the first innings. Apart from Burns, Ollie Robinson who was playing his first Test for the English side picked up seven wickets in two innings. But he has been suspended from the second match after his racist and sexist posts resurfaced on social media that he tweeted a few years back when he was a teenager. New Zealand will play the final of the inaugural World Test Championship against India after the conclusion of the on-going Test series. The WTC final will be played in Southampton scheduled to begin on June 18. India will then play a five-match Test series against England in August.