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Jun 18, 2026 Major2
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Blundell and Phillips lead New Zealand fightback in second Test at the Oval
Tom Blundell scored 51 and Glenn Phillips made 49 not out as New Zealand recovered from 107-4 to reach 291-7 in the opening day of the second Test against England at the Oval. England made five changes including three debutants after dropping captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson for breaching team curfew, with fast bowler Sonny Baker and all-rounder Jacob Bethell making early impacts with the ball.
Quick Facts
Who
Tom Blundell
What
Opening day of second Test cricket match
When
Wednesday (opening day)
Where
The Oval, London
- Opening day of second Test cricket match
- New Zealand batted first
- New Zealand recovered from 107-4 to 291-7
- England dropped captain and one player for curfew breach
- Three England players made Test debuts
Tom Blundell scored New Zealand's first fifty of the series with 51 runs, and Glenn Phillips remained unbeaten on 49, as the Black Caps recovered from a precarious position to reach 291-7 on the opening day of the second Test against England at the Oval on Wednesday. After being sent in to bat, New Zealand had slumped to 107-4 before Blundell's measured innings of 82 balls stabilized the innings, followed by valuable partnerships with Daryl Mitchell (81 runs for 44 runs) and Phillips (75 runs). The recovery represented a marked improvement from New Zealand's first-Test defeat at Lord's, where they were dismissed for 113 and 138 in difficult conditions.
England's bowling attack was led by debutant fast bowler Sonny Baker, the 23-year-old Hampshire quick who took 2-63 and impressed with speeds of 88 mph (142 kph). Jacob Bethell, England's all-rounder bowling left-arm spin, finished with 2-8 in five overs, removing Blundell with a slower, flighted delivery that the New Zealand batter miscued to stand-in captain Joe Root at short midwicket. Matthew Fisher returned after four years away and took one wicket, while Jofra Archer, back from IPL commitments, claimed the scalp of New Zealand captain Tom Latham for 27. Josh Tongue and the pace bowlers shared the remaining wickets across a disciplined bowling performance.
England made significant changes for the match following the Ben Stokes controversy. Captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were dropped after breaching a team curfew following England's morale-boosting victory at Lord's; the pair had reportedly stayed out late for a drinking session that ended in a physical confrontation involving a Saracens rugby player. Three players made their Test debuts: Baker, batsman Jordan Cox, and wicket-keeper James Rew, who was called up after Jamie Smith withdrew due to the birth of his second child. Ollie Robinson, who took seven wickets at Lord's, was ruled out through injury.
New Zealand's batting saw contributions across the middle order. Tom Latham made 27 before falling to Archer, while Rachin Ravindra scored an attractive 33 with 24 runs in boundaries. Henry Nicholls, replacing the retired Kane Williamson at number three, made 24 before playing on to Josh Tongue. Daryl Mitchell's 44 came from 74 balls with six boundaries before he holed out to Baker. The Black Caps had reached 188-5 by tea before the tail-ender Nathan Smith was caught, leaving Phillips to continue building his unbeaten innings with flair, including boundaries off successive deliveries from Baker—a short ball slapped over cover and a drive through extra cover.
Williamson's absence represents a significant change for the touring side, having announced his retirement from international cricket immediately following the first Test. His replacement, Nicholls, faces considerable pressure in filling the void left by the iconic batsman. The conditions at the Oval differed markedly from those at Lord's, with the pitch offering considerably more pace and bounce, which has already affected the course of play and provided opportunities for both pace and spin bowling.
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Why This Matters
This match represents a critical turning point in England-New Zealand cricket rivalry, with New Zealand demonstrating resilience after their devastating first-Test collapse. For international cricket fans, the performance highlights how changes in pitch conditions and personnel decisions—including England's controversial disciplinary action against their captain—can dramatically reshape Test match dynamics. The emergence of England's debutants, particularly fast bowler Sonny Baker, signals potential for the home side's bowling attack, while New Zealand's recovery strategy offers valuable lessons in middle-order stabilization during challenging circumstances.