New Zealand's wicket-keeper batsman BJ Watling has been ruled out of the second Test against England, confirmed New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Thursday (June 10). The BlackCaps posted an official statement of NZC on their Twitter account and cited Watling's sore back as the reason for the rest.
"BJ Watling is out of the second Test against England in Birmingham, after failing to overcome a sore back. Tom Blundell will come into the XI and take the gloves at @Edgbaston . #ENGvNZ," the tweet read.
New Zealand, who lost the toss in the second Test, have made overall six changes in the team from the first Test. Will Young, Blundell, Daryl Mitchell, Matt Henry, Ajaz Patel, and Trent Boult are picked to play at Edgbaston.
Earlier, Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson was ruled out of the final Test match due to an irritated left elbow. Tom Latham will captain the side in his absence. New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said the elbow injury, which made Williamson miss cricket in March, is still troubling him.
"It is not an easy decision for Kane to have to miss a Test, but we think it is the right one," head coach Stead said in an official statement.
"He has had an injection in his elbow to relieve the irritation he has been experiencing when he bats and a period of rest and rehabilitation will help maximize his recovery. The decision has been made very much with the ICC World Test Championship Final at Southampton in mind and we are confident he will be ready for that match starting on June 18," he added.
Playing XI for the second Test:
England: 1 Rory Burns, 2 Dom Sibley, 3 Zak Crawley, 4 Joe Root (captain), 5 Ollie Pope, 6 Dan Lawrence, 7 James Bracey (wk), 8 Mark Wood, 9 Olly Stone, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James Anderson
New Zealand: 1 Tom Latham (captain), 2 Devon Conway, 3 Will Young, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Daryl Mitchell, 8 Neil Wagner, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Ajaz Patel, 11 Trent Boult
(With ANI Inputs)
