England Leads New Zealand Series 1-0 as Second Test Begins at The Oval

England has taken a commanding 1-0 lead in a three-Test series against New Zealand following a decisive 115-run victory at Lord's in the opening match. The second Test began on June 18, 2026, at The Kia Oval, with Joe Root serving as interim captain in place of Ben Stokes, who was unavailable due to a nightclub incident that occurred after the first Test.

To bolster the squad for the second Test, England handed debuts to three new players: Sonny Baker, James Rew, and Jordan Cox. The team made these changes as Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were both sidelined following the off-field incident at a nightclub after the Lord's match concluded.

The series comprises three Tests in total, with the final match scheduled to take place at Trent Bridge in Nottingham beginning on June 25, 2026. England's strong start in the series, combined with the squad depth demonstrated through the debuts of three new players, positions the home team favourably as they seek to maintain their advantage on home soil.