LONDON (AP) 鈥� England chose to bowl first against New Zealand in The Oval test on Wednesday.
Joe Root won the toss in his first test as captain in four years, and predictably opted to exploit damp conditions after the toss was delayed for 30 minutes by a wet outfield with the bad weather clearing.
England can clinch the three-match series after at Lord鈥檚 by 115 runs.
England completed its team on Tuesday with three debutants among five changes, plus after Ben Stokes was dropped for disciplinary reasons.
Jamie Smith was confirmed as missing the match because of the birth of his second child early Tuesday, thereby introducing Somerset wicketkeeper James Rew. Rew was first named in the test squad last year and has been a consistent scorer in the County Championship.
He’ll bat at No. 6, followed by fellow debutant, Essex batter Jordan Cox. Cox and uncapped Hampshire quick Sonny Baker replaced Stokes and Gus Atkinson after they were dropped for while celebrating the Lord’s victory.
Fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Matthew Fisher were brought in after Lord鈥檚 player of the match Ollie and spinner Shoaib Bashir was left out after not being bowled.
New Zealand great Kane last week in mid-series, ending a prolific 16-year international career. He was replaced at No. 3 in the order by , whose 58th and last test was last August in Zimbabwe, where he scored 150 not out.
That was the Kiwis’ only change as pacer Matt Henry passed a fitness test. He suffered back spasms on day one at Lord’s that reduced his effectiveness.
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Lineups:
England: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root (captain), Harry Brook, James Rew, Jordan Cox, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Matthew Fisher, Sonny Baker.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (captain), Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke.
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AP cricket:
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