England v New Zealand 2026 Test Match Series

It took one & a half hour yesterday before Archer bowled, I'm dumbfounded, the 2nd new ball had been available after 3 overs from the start of the day, even if he'd been over bowled with the 8 over the previous day a short spell with the 2nd new ball from our most experienced bowler was clear & obvious.
Generally the New Zealand bowlers were more disciplined, England are looking like giving up a large deficit & will have to bat last on a pitch that is drying out under the heat, even the part time spin of Ravindra & Phillips could pose problems.

(18-06-2026 12:06 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(17-06-2026 10:18 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  England V New Zealand 2nd Test - The Oval 17 - 21 June Day 3 Close
Toss - England elected to field
New Zealand 391 (96.2 overs) Phillips 100 no Jamieson 41 Blundell 51 Mitchell 44 Ravindra 33 Latham 27 Nicholls 24 Bethell 3-26 Archer 2-61Fisher 2-62 Baker 2-94
England 291 (84 overs) Gay 53 Fisher 50 no Root 46 Duckett 36 Cox 27 Brook 24 Rew 24 Henry 5-80 O'Rourke 2-68
New Zealand 252-3 (56 overs) Nicholls 119 no Ravindra 76 Mitchell 32 no
New Zealand lead by 352 runs

Aside from a battling unbeaten half century from Matt Fisher, England had a poor day. The innings by Fisher proved that the pitch was playing well enough to compile an innings & most of the batting order have underachieved.
After the retirement of Williamson New Zealand made a good call by bringing back the experience of Nicholls who has been in top form in the domestic game, he's repaid their loyalty by responding with a century.
Every thing is in the hands of New Zealand they have all the cards & are 1-0 down in the series & will need to drive the game forward. They have attacking batters still to come in, if they bat for half the day they should have more than enough.
Will England set about chasing a target or actually try to bat out the game for a draw ?

This has been a very poor display, bat, ball and fielding . I watched the highlights and didn't see Jofra once.

We need Stokes back asap.

The only positive is that Fisher may be a possible all rounder of the future.

(19-06-2026 12:59 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(18-06-2026 12:06 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(17-06-2026 10:18 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  England V New Zealand 2nd Test - The Oval 17 - 21 June Day 4 Close
Toss - England elected to field
New Zealand 391 (96.2 overs) Phillips 100 no Jamieson 41 Blundell 51 Mitchell 44 Ravindra 33 Latham 27 Nicholls 24 Bethell 3-26 Archer 2-61Fisher 2-62 Baker 2-94
England 291 (84 overs) Gay 53 Fisher 50 no Root 46 Duckett 36 Cox 27 Brook 24 Rew 24 Henry 5-80 O'Rourke 2-68
New Zealand 362 (87.1 overs) Nicholls 121 Ravindra 76 Mitchell 68 Smith 38 Fisher 3-58 Archer 3-62 Tongue 2-64
England 182-5 (43 overs) Root 75 no Brook 58 Jamieson 3-37
Target 463

Under the circumstances England bowled well, Archer was threatening at the start of the day, Fisher picked up a bonus wicket just before the 2nd new ball & a couple more with the new cherry. HAD New Zealand not been bowled out I'm sure the would've declared soon after anyway.
With the bat England slumped to 40-3 before Brook & Root added 97, Brook's innings contained 10 fours & a six. The late wicket of Rew leaves the Kiwi requiring just 5 more wickets for victory, credit to Cox for coming in at the fall of the wicket when many would've let a nightwatchman come in.

Well that didn't last long .

(20-06-2026 13:02 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(19-06-2026 12:59 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(18-06-2026 12:06 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(17-06-2026 10:18 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  England V New Zealand 2nd Test - The Oval 17 - 21 June Day 5
Toss - England elected to field
New Zealand 391 (96.2 overs) Phillips 100 no Jamieson 41 Blundell 51 Mitchell 44 Ravindra 33 Latham 27 Nicholls 24 Bethell 3-26 Archer 2-61Fisher 2-62 Baker 2-94
England 291 (84 overs) Gay 53 Fisher 50 no Root 46 Duckett 36 Cox 27 Brook 24 Rew 24 Henry 5-80 O'Rourke 2-68
New Zealand 362 (87.1 overs) Nicholls 121 Ravindra 76 Mitchell 68 Smith 38 Fisher 3-58 Archer 3-62 Tongue 2-64
England 209 (58.1 overs) Root 77 Brook 58 Cox 25 Jamieson 3-61 Henry 6-29
New Zealand won by 253

Stokes and Atkinson are back for the next test.