When and Where to Watch England vs New Zealand Live Streaming, Match Preview, Timings, and Pitch Report for 2nd Test

Tom Latham is set to lead New Zealand in Kane Williamson’s absence.

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England Cricket Team. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

After what transpired in the first Test, expectations are high for the final Test of the series between England and New Zealand. The Lord’s affair had it all: attritional batting from both teams, some spectacular new-ball bowling, shining debutants on either side, rain, and few misses too.

In the larger scheme of things, this is New Zealand’s best chance to prepare themselves for the bigger challenge in line in the name of the World Test Championship final. For England, this will be an opportunity to get off the mark in the summer.

In hindsight, the only thing that denied New Zealand a win at Lord’s was an entire third day lost to rain. After a bold fifth day declaration, it needed some intent with the bat for England to finish every chance of conceding the series, although they let go of that by choosing safety, stonewalling two sessions after being set 273 in a handsome 75 overs.

But two-match series are dangerously tricky, for they have zero room for turnarounds. A match lost and the best chance one is looking for is sharing the honours. “It was a tricky wicket with a bit of up and down bounce, and we didn’t have the time we needed to go after that target,” admitted the host skipper Joe Root after the first Test. Well, given England had a list of first-choice players missing the ranks, a draw might not have seemed a bad result to take.

To that end, New Zealand, whose squad was more or less at full strength, now have some personnel loss to tackle too, with skipper Kane Williamson being ruled out due to an elbow niggle, while Mitchell Santer will miss having injured his index finger.

Speaking of cuts and bruises, the hearts of those habitual of watching games physically in the ground have had many of those in the last year and a half, with the stadiums across the globe wearing a dystopian and dreadfully empty look. Lord’s had an attendance of under 5000 spectators and in just that little bit, there was a pleasing sense of normalcy and nostalgia as the boos and chants brought the game back to life.

With the UK government deeming the second Test a pilot event, close to 18,000 spectators – 70% of Birmingham’s max – will be in attendance each day. Of course, with all Covid-19 gear and precautions, including negative RT-PCR test reports.

As much as the players will be ebullient to step amidst the crowd, they would require themselves to be at their competitive best. There is a series to be won for both sides and New Zealand have not won one in the longest format on these shores of the world in the last two decades. If they could pull this one off, their tag of the underdogs will be laid to rest, well and truly.

Pitch and conditions

In the seven Tests at Edgbaston since August 2011, 164 wickets have fallen to pace, while 45 have gone to the spinners. As is always the case with any venue in the UK, Edgbaston is clearly another pace-friendly ground. That said, spinners will have a say as the game progresses, more so as this is the time of summer in England.

Playing combination for ENG vs NZ

England

In a classic Butterfly Effect event, not only a spangling debut was overshadowed by some dingy past incidents, but Ollie Robinson stands out of the England team bubble for tweets he made as a 16-year-old. Despite a public apology and complete remorse, the ECB has gone the hard way, suggesting its stance loud and clear about how tolerant they are towards racist, sexist behaviour.

His exclusion means either Olly Stone or Craig Overton, who last played in 2019 against Australia in Manchester, might get a chance. The hosts have called in spinner Dom Bess into the squad; however, Jack Leach remains the first-choice spinner.

Probable XI: Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Joe Root (C), Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence, James Bracey (WK), Craig Overton/Olly Stone, Mark Wood Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Jack Leach

New Zealand

Tom Latham is set to lead in Williamson’s absence, while Will Young will take his spot at No. 3. Santner’s exit has left the visitors with only one spin option in Ajaz Patel, whereas Trent Boult is highly likely to play, having finished his quarantine earlier thanks to relaxations from the UK government. All three in Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson, and Neil Wagner impressed in plenty in the previous game, which will put the management into a selection headache while slotting Boult in.

Probable XI: Tom Latham (C), Devon Conway, Will Young, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (WK), Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Ajaz Patel, Trent Boult/Kyle Jamieson

ENG vs NZ Head-to-Head

Overall

Played – 106 | England – 48 | New Zealand – 11 | Draw – 47

In England

Played – 55 | England – 30 | New Zealand – 5 | Draw – 20

ENG vs NZ Broadcast Details

Match Timings – 03:30 PM IST, 11:00 AM local time

TV– Sony Sports Network

Live Streaming – Sony LIV

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