Daily Times

Captain Ben Stokes was named Wednesday in England’s team for the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington, allaying concerns over his fitness. The visitors won the first Test in Christchurch by eight wickets inside four days and have stuck with the same XI for the next clash starting on Friday.

That includes Stokes, who pulled up while bowling his fifth over on the final day of the first Test and tossed the ball to Gus Atkinson to finish his stint. The inspirational all-rounder stayed on the field and said afterwards there was “a bit of stiffness” in his back stemming from diving for a catch. The third and final Test is in Hamilton beginning December 14. England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, Ben Stokes (capt), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir.