England have announced their playing XI for the third and final Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park, Hamilton, with Matthew Potts replacing Chris Woakes in the seam attack. The decision, revealed on Friday by skipper Ben Stokes, marks the only change in England’s line-up as they aim for a series sweep after winning the first two matches in Christchurch and Wellington.
Ollie Pope will continue to keep wickets for England in the absence of regular wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, as the team seeks to maintain their winning momentum in the ICC World Test Championship.
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On the other side, New Zealand captain Tom Latham held back from announcing his final XI, opting to wait until Saturday morning. Veteran pacer Tim Southee remains in contention for a place, potentially marking his final Test appearance before retirement. Southee faces competition from seamers Will O’Rourke, Nathan Smith, and Matt Henry for three fast-bowling spots. Additionally, left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner could return for his first game of the series.
One confirmed change for New Zealand is the inclusion of top-order batter Will Young, who will open alongside Tom Latham. Young replaces Devon Conway, who is unavailable due to the birth of his first child. Despite being named Player of the Series in New Zealand’s recent whitewash in India, Young was left out of the first two Tests against England but now gets an opportunity to make an impact.
Latham remained non-committal on Southee’s inclusion, saying, “I’m sure he’s excited about what the next five days are going to bring, if he gets that opportunity. He’s always been a key performer for us, and I know he’ll give his best in whatever role he’s asked to play.”
Also See: ENG vs NZ Series Schedule
England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, Ben Stokes (c), Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir.
New Zealand Probable XI: Tom Latham (c), Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Will O’Rourke.
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