Ben Stokes will return as England captain in of four changes to the home team’s starting line-up for the third and deciding Test against New Zealand.
Stokes and Gus Atkinson will both return to the XI after being suspended for the second Test after breaking team curfew following the victory in the opening game of the series.
Jamie Smith slots straight back in after the wicketkeeper missed the defeat at the Oval due to the birth of his child while spinner Shoaib Bashir gets a start in the contest.
While speculation has come up about Stokes’ future as Test captain, head coach Brendon McCullum downplayed tension between himself and the skipper.
“They are the moments that your methods and the environment that you’ve created is tested,” McCullum said. “And that’s what you want. Anyone can lead when it’s easy.
“The true account of a leader or leadership group is to be able to lead when times are difficult. I remember talking to Eoin Morgan after 2015 World Cup, and you know how close I am with him. He came to me and asked me ‘what do you think I should do?’ I said ‘tough times don’t last but tough blokes do’.
“And I think it’s no different – you’ve got to be prepared to go through some tough times knowing that if you’re able to navigate through that, and hold the fort and hold your nerve, then there’s some good stuff to come.
“That’s how we approach it, that’s how I approach it, that’s how Ben approaches it. That’s why looking at this week, knowing that the prize is large, it’s exciting. Yes it’s going to be nervous for some people. There are going to be moments in the game where things will happen which will decide the outcome for the game.”
England XI for third Test: 1 Ben Duckett, 2 Emilio Gay, 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jamie Smith (wk), 7 Ben Stokes (captain), 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Josh Tongue, 11 Shoaib Bashir
