England vs New Zealand, 2nd Test Day 2 is being played today at the Kennington Oval in London, with the match scheduled to run from June 17 to June 21, 2026. Day 1 concluded with New Zealand at 291/7 after electing to field against England, meaning England has yet to bat and the visitors are still in their first innings with three wickets remaining. Day 2 kicks off today, June 18, 2026, starting at 11:00 AM local time in the UK, which translates to 10:00 AM GMT and 3:30 PM IST, or 3:00 PM for viewers in Pakistan (PKT).
This is the second Test of the New Zealand tour of England 2026, carrying World Test Championship points as part of the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy series. The venue is the historic Kennington Oval, also known simply as The Kia Oval, in London, a ground known for producing excellent Test cricket with batsmen-friendly conditions that typically favor stroke-makers once the pitch dries out.
This match carries massive drama after England’s commanding 115-run victory at Lord’s in the first Test. England leads 1-0 in the three-match series. However, this second Test unfolds under unusual circumstances following an extraordinary week between Tests.
For England, captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson have been ruled out after a nightclub incident in London following the first Test. Joe Root has stepped in to lead England, making at least four changes from the Lord’s lineup. Essex batter Jordan Cox and Hampshire pacer Sonny Baker will make their debuts, while Matt Fisher and Jofra Archer will also play.
For New Zealand, the loss is seismic: Kane Williamson has retired from international cricket immediately following the first Test defeat at Lord’s. The former captain and perennial run-scorer’s absence will be sorely felt both from a run-scoring and leadership perspective.
Day 1 (June 17): 24°C, mainly cloudy, 19% shower chance, overcast skies may give new ball aerial movement
Pitch behavior: For the first two days, batters can play confidently once they weather initial morning moisture or seam movement. The pitch will dry rapidly under intense heat, flattening into a paradise for stroke-makers by Day 3 before deteriorating. Prominent footmarks will appear late, allowing spinners to extract significant turn and variable bounce.
ENG vs NZ Match Details
- Series: New Zealand, tour of England 2026
- Teams: England vs New Zealand, 2nd Test
- Date: Wednesday, June 17 – Sunday, June 21, 2026
- Time: 11:00 AM Local Time (UK) / 3:30 PM IST
- Venue: The Kia Oval, Kennington Oval, London
Live Streaming Info:
The ENG vs NZ will be live-streamed on
Live Score Info:
England vs New Zealand 2nd Test Match 2026: All matches on ESPN and Cricbuzz have live scores.
ENG vs NZ Match Live Streaming:
You can watch the England vs New Zealand, 2nd Test, 2026 live based on your location:
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Live Stream: Sky Sport NZ
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TV Channel: Sky Sport NZ
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Live Stream: SonyLIV app or SonyLIV website
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TV Channel: Sony Sports Network (Sony Sports Ten 2/3, Sony Six)
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Match Start Time: 3:30 PM IST
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Live Stream: Sky Sports Cricket via Sky Go or NOW TV Sports Pass
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TV Channel: Sky Sports Cricket
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Audio Commentary: BBC Test Match Special on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
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Live Stream: Kayo Sports
Quick Tip: Since it’s currently June 7, 2026 (Day 4 of the match), the 1st Test is still ongoing at Lord’s. You can catch live coverage now on SonyLIV (India) or Sky Sports (UK). For audio-only updates, BBC Test Match Special is available on BBC Sounds.
Probable Playing XI
England: Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root (capt), Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Jordan Cox, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Matt Fisher, Sonny Baker
New Zealand: Tom Latham (capt & wk), Devon Conway, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, William O’Rourke
Head-to-Head Summary
Recent H2H (Tests, last 5 meetings from ENG perspective): W-L-W-W-W
Last 5 Test Results:
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June 4, 2026: England won by 115 runs (1st Test, Lord’s) – ENG 140 & 226, NZ 113 & 138
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December 13, 2024: New Zealand won – NZ 347 & 453, ENG 143 & 234
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December 5, 2024: England won – ENG 280 & 427/6, NZ 125 & 259
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November 27, 2024: England won – ENG 499 & 104/2, NZ 348 & 254
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June 23, 2022: England won – ENG 360 & 296/3, NZ 329 & 326
England dominates the Test head-to-head convincingly, winning 54 matches to New Zealand’s 14.
Team Analysis
England
Current Form: Leading 1-0 after emphatic Lord’s victory. Ben Stokes’ absence forces attitude reset.
Strengths:
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Impressive squad depth – can call upon players like Archer post-IPL
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Strong batting lineup with Duckett, Root, Brook, Smith
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Express pace with Archer, Tongue, Fisher
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Home conditions advantage
Weaknesses:
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Captain Stokes absent – leadership transition to Root
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Lost Atkinson’s pace and effectiveness
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Five changes after winning by 115 runs is rare
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Nightclub incident disrupted preparation
Key Players:
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Joe Root (captain): Played 108 Tests – more than rest of England’s XI combined
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Harry Brook: Elite scorer in release mode
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Jamie Smith (wk): Strong wicketkeeper-batter
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Jofra Archer: Return from IPL, express pace
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Jordan Cox: Debutant batter
New Zealand
Current Form: Lost first Test by 115 runs. Pushed England hard at Lord’s but fell short.
Strengths:
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Solid batting core with Conway, Ravindra, Mitchell
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Experienced captain Tom Latham
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Quality pace with Henry, Southee, O’Rourke
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Good team depth despite Williamson loss
Weaknesses:
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Kane Williamson’s retirement creates seismic hole in top order
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Leadership vacuum after losing perennial run-scorer
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Struggled against England’s pace at Lord’s
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Missing Williamson’s run-scoring and experience
Key Players:
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Tom Latham (capt & wk): Steady leader, experienced
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Devon Conway: Reliable opener
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Rachin Ravindra: Young talent, dual skill
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Daryl Mitchell: Versatile batter-bowler
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Matt Henry: Quality pace, consistent
Key Talking Points
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Root’s Captaincy Return: Joe Root leads England four years after losing the job, stepping up after Stokes’ exclusion
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Williamson’s Retirement Impact: Kane Williamson’s absence creates a seismic hole in New Zealand’s top order
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England’s Five Changes: Rare to make five changes after winning by 115 runs – this hasn’t been a normal week
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Debutants: Jordan Cox and Sonny Baker make their first Test appearances
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Archer’s Return: Jofra Archer returns after IPL commitments, adding express pace
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Heatwave Conditions: Intense warmth (up to 32°C) will test stamina and affect pitch behavior
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WTC Points: This is a World Test Championship match with crucial points at stake
England have approximately 55% winning chance while New Zealand have 45%.
Why England:
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Home conditions advantage at The Oval
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Impressive squad depth with Archer available
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Leading 1-0 in series, momentum intact
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Strong batting lineup even without Stokes
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Joe Root’s Test experience (108 matches)
Why New Zealand:
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Pushed England hard at Lord’s despite loss
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Solid batting core with Conway and Ravindra
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Quality pace attack
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Can bounce back if Williamson replacement clicks
England to win. The home side contains impressive depth, and while New Zealand are a good team who pushed England hard, England’s level of depth including Archer’s availability makes them worth backing to come out on top again at The Oval.
The baking pitch under heatwave conditions should favor England’s aggressive batting approach, and Root’s leadership combined with home advantage gives them the edge despite the unusual circumstances surrounding this match.