Black Caps vs England: Tom Latham's big chance to heighten Ben Stokes' troubles in test-series decider at Trent Bridge

Thursday, 25 June 2026

What: Third test, New Zealand vs England. Where: Trent Bridge, Nottingham. When: Thursday 10pm (NZ time, day one of five; live coverage on Sky Sport.

ANALYSIS: With the win at The Oval, captain Tom Latham became New Zealand’s most successful test cricketer.

The second-test victory over England was Latham’s 48th win in 94 test appearances - one more than the just-retired Kane Williamson, and current England pace bowling coach Tim Southee.

Now, Latham needs to contribute with the bat to add another test win to his record, and just the second victory in a series of three or more tests in England by the Black Caps.

His opposing skipper will be another player born in Christchurch.

Ben Stokes has returned to the fold after being stood down - along with pace bowler Gus Atkinson - for the second test.

There’s no doubt the home team captain faces far greater pressure for the deciding test starting on Thursday night (NZ time) at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

Stokes spoke face to face with coach Brendon McCullum for an hour in Nottingham and The Times reported the pair “embraced on the field in a show of unity, before the team's practice began”.

McCullum spoke to the media and insisted that the pair 'are tight' and does not know where rumours of a rift have come from.

“We are good friends; we work very well together. It's been a real privilege for me over the past four years to work in intimate detail and as a partnership alongside Ben,' McCullum said.

The former NZ captain also said he now had no concerns for Stokes's well-being.

'My assessment was that I was slightly concerned and worried, now my assessment is that he looks great and is ready to go.”

Stokes played in the County Championship for his Durham side at the weekend, making 95 against Northamptonshire before being withdrawn from the match ahead of the third test.

After making 141 against India at Old Trafford in July last year, Stokes had scores of 6, 2, 19, 50, 83, 5, 16, 2, 0 and 1 against Australia in England’s Ashes debacle, and managed just 12 and a duck in the first test at Lord’s versus the Black Caps.

Latham made centuries in both innings against the West Indies at Mt Maunganui late last year, but has followed that with a duck in NZ’s only innings in their test win over Ireland last month, and scores of 3, 0, 27 and 4 in this series.

There were signs in the first innings at The Oval that the left-hander’s technique was solid, as England became the latest side to test out his problems facing bowlers coming around the wicket.

Fellow left-handed opener Devon Conway has made scores of 4, 1, 41, 9 and 11 on tour, but if the duo find form in the final test, it could go a long way to gaining the visitors a series triumph.

Henry Nicholls made a century at No.3 on his test return at The Oval, NZ’s middle-order batters Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips have all made contributions and the pace quartet of Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith have constantly troubled opposing batters.

With the temperature forecasted to reach as high as 38C on day one, it appears a specialist spinner would be a prudent inclusion in each XI, to take advantage as the pitch wears.

England are expected to play offspinner Shoaib Bashir, but just where the left-arm orthodox spin of Mitchell Santner fits in for the Black Caps leaves Latham and coach Rob Walter with a headache.

Smith could be the unlucky one to miss out, the brains trust may opt to stay with Ravindra and Phillips as their spin options, while the left-field approach would be to omit Conway, with Nicholls opening and the rest of the batting order also moving up a spot.

Possible NZ XI: Tom Latham (captain), Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wicketkeeper), Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke.

England XI: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.