{"id":744372,"date":"2026-06-18T11:48:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T11:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/744372\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T11:48:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T11:48:18","slug":"england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live-england-v-new-zealand-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/744372\/","title":{"rendered":"England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live | England v New Zealand 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Key events<\/p>\n<p>New Zealand are all out for 391<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The answer is no. Phillips pulls away and Emilio Gay keeps calm in the deep. It\u2019s still New Zealand\u2019s morning, with Glenn Phillips celebrating his first Test century.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">WICKET! Phillips c Gay b Fisher 100 (New Zealand 391 all out)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33d8ef8f087fb1fe06124a#block-6a33d8ef8f087fb1fe06124a\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">96th over: New Zealand 391-9 (O\u2019Rourke 0, Phillips 100) Can New Zealand squeeze out a few more and get to 400?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33d88a8f083b97ede8adb5#block-6a33d88a8f083b97ede8adb5\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>WICKET! Henry c Tongue b Archer 5 (New Zealand 391-9)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Henry, having got his mate to a ton, swings hard immediately \u2013 the ball lobs up for a simple grab at extra cover.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33d8078f087fb1fe061236#block-6a33d8078f087fb1fe061236\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Hundred for Glenn Phillips!<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Jofra Archer, finally. In comes England\u2019s premier quick, but he can\u2019t stop Phillips from getting to a maiden Test century. New Zealand\u2019s No 7 dabs the ball into the offside and raises his bat to the sky. He did a decent job at Lord\u2019s; he\u2019s been brilliant here.<\/p>\n<p>Glenn Phillips of New Zealand acknowledges his century. Photograph: Alan Stanford\/PPAUK\/Shutterstock<a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33d7718f087fb1fe061234#block-6a33d7718f087fb1fe061234\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a007.46 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">95th over: New Zealand 388-8 (Henry 5, Phillips 97) Henry is tasked with blocking out Fisher, who gets one to sneak past the outside edge. A bumper leaves Henry in a bit of a state, unable to get out of the way \u2013 he collects two leg byes.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33d6288f087fb1fe06121e#block-6a33d6288f087fb1fe06121e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">94th over: New Zealand 386-8 (Henry 5, Phillips 97) Bethell continues \u2013 Jofra Archer is still waiting for his first bowl of the day. Henry cuts away for four to get up and running, and Phillips ends the over with a thunk over the off-side. He\u2019s three runs away from three figures.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33d52c8f087fb1fe061216#block-6a33d52c8f087fb1fe061216\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">93rd over: New Zealand 377-8 (Henry 0, Phillips 93) Fisher goes short again and it\u2019s off Phillips\u2019 helmet, running away for four. He\u2019s awarded runs, though, taking him into the 90s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Simon Fuller doesn\u2019t mind this from England.<\/p>\n<p>double quotation markI have a ticket for day 4. Is it bad of me to be celebrating England\u2019s generous approach to bowling this morning?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33d43b8f087fb1fe0611fb#block-6a33d43b8f087fb1fe0611fb\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">92nd over: New Zealand 373-8 (Henry 0, Phillips 89) Bethell, again. Phillips takes a single immediately, allowing Henry to show off his forward defence against some left-arm tweak.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33d3718f083b97ede8ad62#block-6a33d3718f083b97ede8ad62\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">91st over: New Zealand 372-8 (Henry 0, Phillips 88) Fisher continues \u2026 and Phillips demolishes a short ball, the 83mph effort welcomed by the No 7. A clip into the leg-side takes him to a new Test-best; crucially, it keeps him on strike for the next over.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33d2688f087fb1fe0611d6#block-6a33d2688f087fb1fe0611d6\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">90th over: New Zealand 367-8 (Henry 0, Phillips 83) It\u2019s up to Matt Henry now to keep Phillips company.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33d1fe8f083b97ede8ad52#block-6a33d1fe8f083b97ede8ad52\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>WICKET! Jamieson b Bethell 41 (New Zealand 367-8)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Glenn Phillips, I\u2019m surprised to read, has yet to score a Test ton. Here\u2019s Bethell, who Phillips punches for a single. And England strike after drinks! Bethell fires in a dart and Jamieson, going for a hefty slog, misses. Relief for Root and co.<\/p>\n<p>Out: New Zealand&#8217;s Kyle Jamieson .  Photograph: Glyn Kirk\/AFP\/Getty Images<a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33d0d08f08c4f67d4d2a8e#block-6a33d0d08f08c4f67d4d2a8e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a007.14 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">89th over: New Zealand 365-7 (Jamieson 40, Phillips 82) Here comes Matt Fisher and Jamieson smacks away through the leg-side to collect a couple, with Jordan Cox pulling off a decent stop by the ropes. This\u2019ll be four though: Jamieson whips away through the leg-side again. Both batters look very comfortable out there. \u201cThis has been a really bad hour for England,\u201d says Michael Atherton on Sky. Maybe an understatement. Time for drinks.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33cf318f08c4f67d4d2a72#block-6a33cf318f08c4f67d4d2a72\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">88th over: New Zealand 357-7 (Jamieson 33, Phillips 81) Bethell continues \u2013 and sneaks through a fairly quiet over, just a single off it. Still unclear why he\u2019s bowling right now.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33ce758f08c4f67d4d2a61#block-6a33ce758f08c4f67d4d2a61\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">87th over: New Zealand 356-7 (Jamieson 33, Phillips 80) Jamieson, having taken those blows to the helmet, welcomes anything full: he lets the arms flow into a lush cover drive off Tongue. Four more. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33cd578f087fb1fe061191#block-6a33cd578f087fb1fe061191\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">86th over: New Zealand 350-7 (Jamieson 27, Phillips 80) I\u2019m thoroughly confused here: Jacob Bethell is on with the second new ball only five overs old. The punishment continues as Jamieson rocks back and punches through the covers for four. That\u2019s 350 up, only eight overs after getting to 300.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33cc258f087fb1fe06117e#block-6a33cc258f087fb1fe06117e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">85th over: New Zealand 345-7 (Jamieson 22, Phillips 80) Phillips plays late to guide Tongue behind point for four more \u2013 this stand, worth 65, is moving at close to a run a ball.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Richard O\u2019Hagan writes in, not best pleased with what he\u2019s watching.<\/p>\n<p>double quotation markEngland seem to have decided to bowl like they are the 1986 West Indies. Unfortunately they are doing so with all of the guile, skill and common sense of 1986 England. So disappointing after (most of) yesterday\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33cafc8f083b97ede8acda#block-6a33cafc8f083b97ede8acda\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">84th over: New Zealand 340-7 (Jamieson 21, Phillips 76) Baker continues but Phillips is enjoying himself now, punching through the offside, clipping through leg, collecting consecutive boundaries.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33ca468f087fb1fe061162#block-6a33ca468f087fb1fe061162\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">83rd over: New Zealand 332-7 (Jamieson 21, Phillips 68) Tongue cuts Jamieson in half, jagging the ball into the right-hander. Finally, a fairly quiet over.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33c9528f08c4f67d4d2a12#block-6a33c9528f08c4f67d4d2a12\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">82nd over: New Zealand 329-7 (Jamieson 21, Phillips 65) Baker continues, surprising the animated Phillips with one that keeps low. He goes short to Jamieson, though, and the hulking New Zealand quick needs to get checked out buy the doc again after another blow to the helmet. Hope he\u2019s OK. After a break in play, Jamieson ends the over with a beautiful punch through the covers for four. England are leaking plenty here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">John Starbuck writes in:<\/p>\n<p>double quotation markAnother drop! This time by Duckett, who\u2019s usually a pretty reliable fielder. I suspect some of the drops at Lord\u2019s, such as those by Rachin Ravindra, may be down to too-powerful sun glasses. Is Ducket sporting them today?<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Duckett\u2019s shades were, curiously, resting on his cap.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33c7128f083b97ede8ac91#block-6a33c7128f083b97ede8ac91\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a006.32 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">81st over: New Zealand 324-7 (Jamieson 17, Phillips 64) The new ball is taken \u2013 time for England to get out of bouncer mode. Tongue will continue as Phillips welcomes the fresh cherry, clipping through midwicket for the shot of the morning with a lovely little flourish of the blade. Tongue responds by nipping it away from the outside edge.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33c5f38f08c4f67d4d29c8#block-6a33c5f38f08c4f67d4d29c8\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">80th over: New Zealand 318-7 (Jamieson 16, Phillips 59) Jamieson slaps Baker through the off-side, then makes room for a mighty smack \u2026 he edges away over Rew for four more. The big man is here to have fun as he launches to deep midwicket \u2026 and Ben Duckett, backpedalling, drops it! That should have been snaffled; Baker was already celebrating. To make matters worse for the debutant, Phillips pulls away for another boundary, the third of the over. A very tidy start to the day for New Zealand.<\/p>\n<p>Got it Photograph: Jay Patel\/SPP\/ShutterstockNo I don\u2019t\u2026  Photograph: Andrew Couldridge\/Action Images\/ReutersOops  Photograph: Keeran Marquis\/SPP\/Shutterstock<a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33c4e78f087fb1fe061106#block-6a33c4e78f087fb1fe061106\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a006.23 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">79th over: New Zealand 305-7 (Jamieson 7, Phillips 55) It\u2019s Josh Tongue to bound in from the Pavilion End \u2013 he goes short and Phillips offers no shot, the ball smashing into his belly button. Ouch. England are going full bumper mode, with three men on the leg-side boundary, and midwicket just a few yards in front of the rope. And is Jamieson gone, gloving the ball high, with Rew collecting? Nah, off the helmet. And a no ball, too. Jamieson will get checked out by the doc.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33c2a08f083b97ede8ac68#block-6a33c2a08f083b97ede8ac68\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Half-century for Glenn Phillips!<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">78th over: New Zealand 300-7 (Jamieson 6, Phillips 54) The sun has poked through at the Oval \u2026 as Baker goes short, the ball loose and swinging away to the ropes for byes. Short again with the next delivery \u2013 and Phillips gets something on it, top-edging as the ball flies over James Rew, evading the fingertips. And that\u2019ll be his fifty too. Baker, in the high-80s, continues to angle the ball into Phillips, who gets a single to keep the strike.<\/p>\n<p>Glenn Phillips of New Zealand hits a four for his 50 during Day 2. Photograph: Alan Stanford\/PPAUK\/Shutterstock<a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33c1728f083b97ede8ac5c#block-6a33c1728f083b97ede8ac5c\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a006.09 EDT<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Right then, it\u2019ll be Sonny Baker to get us going, with Glenn Phillips on strike. Let\u2019s play!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33c1458f083b97ede8ac59#block-6a33c1458f083b97ede8ac59\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cNew Zealand, if they don\u2019t make it to 400, will be very, very disappointed on this deck,\u201d says Mark Butcher on Sky. It\u2019s up to Phillips to get them there, unbeaten on 49 and the leading run-scorer in the series after a couple of decent knocks at Lord\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33bae88f083b97ede8ac15#block-6a33bae88f083b97ede8ac15\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Mark Wood is on Sky\u2019s broadcast, rocking some lime sunglasses. Glenn Phillips got the shades on yesterday, too \u2013 while facing Jofra Archer\u2019s bouncer show.<\/p>\n<p> Photograph: Kieran McManus\/Shutterstock<a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33b99c8f083b97ede8ac09#block-6a33b99c8f083b97ede8ac09\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It was a day Sonny Baker will never forget.<\/p>\n<p>double quotation markEven this morning I could feel the anxiety build up in my stomach, I was trying to play cards on the bus to try and take my mind off the \u00adgravity of the situation.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33b8b08f08c4f67d4d293d#block-6a33b8b08f08c4f67d4d293d\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Simon Burnton was focused on the old-new captain.<\/p>\n<p>double quotation markWould we once again see the Root who led and often carried the team between 2017 and 2022, a new Root reshaped by four years spent working with Brendon McCullum? Or a Root who \u2013 as Stokes\u2019s stand-in \u2013 felt obliged to attempt an impersonation?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33b8318f087fb1fe06107d#block-6a33b8318f087fb1fe06107d\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Andy Bull kept a close eye on the unreadable Brendon McCullum yesterday.<\/p>\n<p>double quotation markIt\u2019s increasingly hard to say what\u2019s going on behind those shades. The man\u2019s the Anna Wintour of the wicket.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a33b7c68f083b97ede8abef#block-6a33b7c68f083b97ede8abef\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Well, that was nice: a semi-normal day of Test cricket, wickets in single figures, enough there for the quicks, New Zealand\u2019s batters able to get in \u2026 with only Glenn Phillips still on course to go big.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Of course, this isn\u2019t a normal Test at all for England, with three debutants in the mix alongside an interim captain. Sonny Baker got to show off his wheels yesterday, firing the ball in at the toes, highlighting his value on this stage after a couple of torrid white-ball appearances. He\u2019s still got work to do this morning, though; Joe Root may well turn to him to help wipe out the tail. And then, potentially, a glimpse at the new shiny toys at six and seven.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">It\u2019s cloudy but dry in south London so we\u2019ll get going at 11am BST (fingers crossed). Join myself and James Wallace for all the fun.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"mailto:?subject=England v New Zealand: second men\u2019s Test, day two \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/live\/2026\/jun\/18\/england-v-new-zealand-second-mens-test-day-two-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a3269ec8f08bd83c766b986#block-6a3269ec8f08bd83c766b986\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-1mulgdf\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Key events New Zealand are all out for 391 The answer is no. Phillips pulls away and Emilio&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":744373,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[564],"tags":[64,63,740,85],"class_list":["post-744372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cricket","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-cricket","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/744372","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=744372"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/744372\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/744373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=744372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=744372"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=744372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}