Jordan Cox, Sonny Baker to debut in Oval Test

Jordan Cox, Sonny Baker to debut in Oval Test

Wicketkeeper-batter Jordan Cox and pacer Sonny Baker will debut against New Zealand at The Oval on Wednesday, June 17, after being named in England's XI for the second Test two days out from the game.

Also returning to the XI is pacer Jofra Archer, providing a much-needed boost following Atkinson's absence and Ollie Robinson's knee injury that has ruled him out of this Test.

Spinner Shoaib Bashir has been left out, with England opting for a four-man pace attack including Surrey's Matthew Fisher, who will play his second Test after debuting in the Caribbean in 2022.

England XI for 2nd Test: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue

Cox will slot in at No. 7 in place of Stokes, picked ahead of James Rew. Cox slammed a 201-ball 204 for Essex in the ongoing County Championship round against Leicestershire. He has also featured in 3 ODIs and 6 T20Is.

Baker, who made his ODI and T20I debut in the 2025 summer, earned his Test call-up with 22 wickets from 6 Championship matches this season at 24.86 apiece.

The Caribbean tour marked Joe Root's last stint as England Test captain until he stepped in while Stokes was ruled out of the Oval Test. England lead the 3-match series 1-0, part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.