McCullum Faces Nz Vs Eng Selection Chaos With Three Debutants
England could field as many as three debutants in nz vs eng at The Oval after a run of late changes left the second Test badly reshaped. Jordan Cox and Sonny Baker are set to make their debuts, while James Rew could get his chance if Jamie Smith is unavailable.
The Oval reshuffle
Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were left out of the squad after breaching a midnight curfew following the series opener at Lord's, and Ollie Robinson was then withdrawn because of a knee injury. Shoaib Bashir was also dropped after not bowling an over in the first Test, leaving England with as many as five changes from the side that started the series.
Joe Root has been named captain for the second Test, and Jofra Archer and Matt Fisher have returned to the XI. Cox is set to replace Stokes at No.7, giving England a direct replacement in the lower middle order rather than a like-for-like captaincy switch.
McCullum on Stokes
Brendon McCullum said the period had been chaos and laid out his reaction to the episode at a Chelsea nightspot. “When I first found out about it I was slightly bewildered, if I'm being honest. Then you go through a range of emotions. You go from being bewildered, on to angry, on to gutted,” he said.
He added: “But very quickly … my overall emotion turned to worry and concern for Ben in particular.” McCullum also said, “For me it's very much about how we support these guys through the next stage, in particular Ben.”
James Rew waits
The wicketkeeping decision is the one that could still change the balance of England's XI. Rew would bat at six and keep wicket if Smith misses the match, which would push England toward three debutants in one Test if that switch is needed.
Smith could sit out if his partner gives birth in the next couple of days. That possibility leaves England preparing for a second Test that already features Root as captain, Cox at No.7, and a pace group rebuilt around Archer and Fisher.
McCullum's final line captured the uncertainty around Stokes: “I'm worried about Ben. That's it,” he said. England head into The Oval with a team still taking shape, and the biggest selection call now sits on Smith's availability.
