ENG vs NZ 2026: Devon Conway flies back to New Zealand for birth of his second child

New Zealand batter Devon Conway has flown back home ahead of the birth of his second child with his wife, Kim. Thanks to the gap between the first and the second Test match against England, the left-handed batter can afford making a 37,000-kilometre round trip.

According to Cricket New Zealand, Conway will spend some time with his family before returning to the United Kingdom to take part in the second Test match at the Oval, commencing on June 17. The 34-year-old is therefore not expected to miss any action in the three-match series, hence the management have not named any replacements. 

"BLACKCAPS batter Devon Conway has briefly returned home to New Zealand to welcome the birth of his second child. Conway will spend some time at home with family before flying back to London ahead of the second Test against England at The Oval, starting Wednesday 17 Jun," an official statement from New Zealand Cricket said, via ESPNcricinfo. 

New Zealand will come into the second Test on the back of a 115-run defeat at the hands of England at Lord's, with the game getting done in less than four days. A game dominated by the bowlers, Conway's 41 in the second innings was the Black Caps' second-highest individual score in the game, only bettered by Glenn Phillips' 44 not out. 

According to the aforementioned source, New Zealand players have gotten time off from training after the conclusion of the First Test match. The squad is due to train next on Friday, before yet another day off on Saturday, followed by three straight days of preparations ahead of the start of the second Test on Wednesday.

Despite New Zealand losing the first game of the season comprehensively, it is England who have been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were involved in a nightclub brawl in the early hours of Monday, which has led to the pair getting axed from the squad for the second Test. Joe Root instead has been named the interim captain of the side in the absence of the Durham all-rounder.