New Zealand captain Tom Latham elected to bat first in the decisive third Test against England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Thursday. However, the visitors suffered a major setback ahead of the winner-take-all clash, with two key players missing through injury.The scores in the three-game series are all 1-1. England won the first Test at Lord’s by 115 runs before New Zealand responded with a crushing 253-run victory at The Oval. With precious ICC World Test Championship points on the line, the encounter at Trent Bridge will decide the series winner.
Matt Henry, Glenn Phillips ruled out
New Zealand were forced to make major changes after pace spearhead Matt Henry and star all-rounder Glenn Phillips were ruled out of the final Test. Henry, who had recently climbed to No. 1 in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings, was sidelined with a calf injury after a stellar performance in the win at New Zealand Oval. Meanwhile, Phillips is out with a side strain.
England make adjustments to decider
England have also reshuffled their squad after a disastrous defeat in the second Test, with skipper Ben Stokes returning to lead the team after a break at The Oval. Fast bowler Gus Atkinson also returns, while wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith returns after missing the last Test following the birth of his child. Spinner Shoaib Bashir has been recalled to strengthen England’s spin options.Although Ollie Robinson has been declared fit, he was not named in the starting XI.
Hit XI
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c), Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Ben Sears, William O’RourkeEngland: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brooke, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (c), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tonge, Shoaib Bashir
