England name unchanged XI for 2nd Test, Matt Henry set to return for New Zealand

England will field an unchanged playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand, captain Ben Stokes confirmed on Thursday.

While the hosts are expected to add Matt Henry to their bowling attack in an attempt to level the series.

England registered a thumping 267-run win over New Zealand in the opening Test last week to take a 1-0 series lead over the hosts. England’s victory had imprinted the “Bazball” style of cricket they have been playing under captain Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

Seamers Stuart Broad, James Anderson, and Ollie Robinson all played important roles in the victory, and Stokes said it was a no-brainer to field the same team at Wellington’s Basin Reserve on Friday after all three had indicated they were fit.

“It was just a case of seeing how the bowlers pulled up and they’ve all pulled up pretty well so, yeah, unchanged team,” he told reporters.

“It is a fine line between picking your strongest 11 and ensuring that the bowlers that you pick are 100%. It was pretty easy to pick the team once they told me they were ready to go.”

“It would be great to leave here with a 2-0 series win but I don’t think we’ll be looking to go in here to achieve that,” Christchurch-born Stokes added.

“I think we’ll be looking to play the exact same cricket we’ve been playing the last 10 to 12 months and if New Zealand are better than us this week, then we’ll be able to say that.”

New Zealand captain Tim Southee has stated that his team will be relieved to return to red-ball cricket this week after being thoroughly out-strategized by England in the pink-ball match at Bay Oval. The seamer went on to say that New Zealand were unlikely to try to emulate England’s aggressive style of play in the second and final Test in Wellington.

“You’ve got to look at your side and try and work with what you’ve got,” he told reporters.

“That works for England because of the makeup of their side but it’s about us finding a way that works for us. We know these conditions reasonably well and I guess that’s where your home advantage comes into it.”