England name XI for 2nd New Zealand Test; Archer returns alongside TWO debutants

Joe Root will skipper a much-changed XI for England's 2nd Test against New Zealand at The Oval.

Brendon McCullum & co will hand Test debuts to Jordan Cox and Sonny Baker while Jofra Archer makes a return to the side after returning from the IPL, helping to form a new look seam attack alongside Matt Fisher.

A total of four changes have been made through a combination of injury and disciplinary issues and there may yet be a fifth if Jamie Smith has to take paternity leave. Somerset wicketkeeper-batter James Rew will replace Smith should he be absent.

England will be keen to put a tough week behind them when they take to the pitch on Wednesday.

Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been stood down after breaking team protocols following the first Test victory over the Black Caps. Root has been named as interim skipper in Stokes' absence, a return to captaincy duty after stepping down from the role a little over four years ago.

Ollie Robinson will be disappointed to miss out with a knee problem after taking a 5fer in the first innings of the opening Test and Shoaib Bashir will also sit out after his bowling was not required at Lord's last week.

Cox -- capped nine times for his country in white-ball cricket -- was not included in the squad for the first Test as a result of him spending the opening two months of the season over in the IPL with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

He played as part of the England Lions squad against South Africa A last week before scoring a double-century for Essex in the County Championship in its latest round of fixtures.

England XI to face New Zealand

1. Ben Duckett
2. Emilio Gay
3. Jacob Bethell
4. Joe Root (C)
5. Harry Brook
6. Jamie Smith (WK)*
7. Jordan Cox
8. Jofra Archer
9. Josh Tongue
10. Matthew Fisher
11. Sonny Baker

IN: Cox, Archer, Fisher, Baker

OUT: Stokes, Robinson, Atkinson, Bashir

The hosts are 5/6 to claim a series-winning victory in the 2nd Test that begins at 11:00 on Wednesday.

Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.