England in trouble after dreadful day against NZ

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, Watch the best shots from Glenn Phillips' century against England By Stephan Shemilt Cricket Correspondent at The Kia Oval Published 18 June 2026, 19:07 BST Updated 2 minutes ago Second Rothesay Test, The Kia Oval (day two of five) New Zealand 391: Phillips 100, Blundell 51; Bethell 3-26 England 222-6: Gay 53, Root 46; Henry 2-57, O'Rourke 2-61 England are 169 runs behind Scorecard England are in a dire position against New Zealand after spiralling from a chaotic morning on day two of the second Test at The Oval. Following an encouraging first-day performance from a team without captain Ben Stokes, England surrendered the initiative through strange tactics, a crucial dropped catch and a wonderful maiden Test century from Glenn Phillips. It meant New Zealand were able to move from their overnight 291-7 to 391 all out. Though Emilio Gay made a half-century and stand-in captain Joe Root 46, England lost three wickets for 35 runs to slip to 177-5. And when James Rew gloved the hostile Will O'Rourke late in the day, England were left 222-6, 169 behind with the tail exposed. Jordan Cox is unbeaten on 22, alongside Jofra Archer yet to score. England set the tone for their own troubles with the very first ball of the day - laying a short-ball trap for Sonny Baker bowling to Kyle Jamieson. Baker's bouncer went for four byes and the day got worse from there. Jamieson made a vital 41 after a horrible drop by Ben Duckett when he was on 15. Archer did not bowl for the first 90 minutes of the day, including with the second new ball, but then struck with his fourth delivery. The home side caused another of their own problems when Duckett was run out for 36, called for a short single by Gay that was never there. Gay and Root added 74, only for Root and Harry Brook to both be lbw to Matt Henry in a huge double blow to England. Lord Botham criticises Stokes for breaking curfew Published 46 minutes ago Dropped England captain Stokes to play for Durham Published 5 hours ago Baffling England create their own problems To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Figure caption, Duckett run out for 36 early into afternoon session After all the off-field controversy involving Stokes, who will play for Durham on Friday, it was to England's credit that such an inexperienced team battled so hard on the opening day. All that work was undone from the first delivery of day two. It might be harsh to say England missed Stokes' captaincy, because the short-ball plan is a favourite of his, but the hosts certainly looked bereft of leaders, discipline and inspiration. Maybe the bouncers that Baker and Josh Tongue were asked to bowl were a result of the second new ball being available three overs into the day, and maybe they would have been justified had Duckett not shelled the simple chance at deep mid-wicket. Instead, 27 r