England have made 4 changes for his or her Trent Bridge series decider against Latest Zealand but Ollie Robinson has been missed.
There have been five changes and three debutants as they crashed to a 253-run defeat on the Kia Oval last week, with Robinson the one one in every of the absent quintet not returning despite his player-of-the-match showing in the primary Test.
Captain Ben Stokes and seamer Gus Atkinson are back after being stood down within the aftermath of what became a dramatic night out at a London nightclub, while wicketkeeper Jamie Smith reclaims the gloves from James Rew following the birth of his second child.
Spinner Shoaib Bashir, who didn’t bowl a single over in his previous appearance at Lord’s, edges Robinson out with extreme heat this week expected to favour a slow bowler.
For exclusive stories and all of the detailed cricket news you would like, subscribe to The Cricket Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day
FOLLOW OUR LIVE SCORES CENTRE
LEFT OUT: Ollie Robinson has been neglected despite his impressive first-Test display
PICTURE: PA
Out within the cold
Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Jofra Archer are the popular seam bowling unit, leaving Robinson within the cold once more.
The 32-year-old took career-best figures of seven for 77 on a bowler-friendly pitch at Lord’s, including a sensational triple-wicket maiden in his first Test over in greater than two years.
But he subsequently withdrew from the the second Test because of a right knee injury.
Having recalled him to the side, England repeatedly said Robinson had nothing to prove with the ball in hand but did have to steer them that his body was robust enough to resist the rigours of five-day cricket.
Dropping out after getting through just 23.5 overs at the house of cricket was an unlucky postscript to his outstanding work with the brand new ball and, despite being passed fit for duty in Nottingham, England have chosen to look elsewhere.
Atkinson, Archer and Tongue are all quicker through the air than Robinson, though offer less nuance and subtlety.
PICTURE: Mike Egerton/PA
Progress
Head coach Brendon McCullum is hoping a side showing 10 of the players that secured a 115-run win within the series opener can put the following thrashing of an inexperienced outfit previously.
“I feel we saw at Lord’s a big improvement from where we were previously,” he said. “They were tricky conditions but we navigated the surface and opposition brilliantly.
“We adjusted our game and were relentless with the ball, and our execution was nearly as good because it may very well be.
“That was significant progress from where we were as a side. It was a pleasant evolution.
“Last week was what it was. This week we wish to get back closer to where we were at Lord’s.”
READ MORE: England chief Brendon McCullum denies talk of a wedge between himself and captain Ben Stokes
