Devon Conway is dismissed in the second Test’s first hour on day one as New Zealand start at 14-1. The England attack includes Matt Fisher taking his second Test wicket, with Jofra Archer striking early and Tom Latham and Conway settled only briefly before the
When England finally got the toss out of the way, the day’s rhythm belonged to the bowlers.
Joe Root led England out as captain for the first time in four years. choosing to unleash the attack after England won the toss and decided to bowl first at The Oval. Sunshine brightened South London. though the covers had been across the square earlier and the tentatively better news still came with delays: the toss was first pushed back and then confirmed for 11am. with play beginning at 11am.
New Zealand’s innings started briskly. Jofra Archer opened from the Pavilion End. bowling a back of a length that Tom Latham clipped for a couple into the leg side. Archer had some zip and shape. Latham took a quick single to midwicket. and Devon Conway faced what he could not ignore—nigh on 90mph—playing and missing his first ball outside off.
By the end of the opening over, New Zealand were already moving—3-0 (Latham 3, Conway 0).
Matt Fisher then arrived for England’s second over, his first Test spell since Root’s last Test in charge four years ago in the Caribbean. Fisher brought movement back immediately and a maiden followed to keep the pressure on: New Zealand remained 3-0 (Latham 3, Conway 0).
Archer tightened the screws in the third over, cranking his speeds into the 90s. The crowd cheered as Archer bowled at pace and the atmosphere in the ground seemed genuinely alive. Conway nearly got away with one—there was an appeal after he edged behind sketchily for two when the ball nipped past the shoulder of his blade—but the breakthrough did not come then. Conway was eventually punished for the next phase of the same problem: he flayed outside off again and struck four. New Zealand moved to 9-0 (Latham 3, Conway 6).
From there, England’s work turned into the kind of stoppage that changes how the rest of the innings feels. In the fourth over, Latham and Conway tucked a too-straight Fisher into the leg side for three runs, bringing New Zealand to 12-0 (Latham 4, Conway 8).
New Zealand survived the next exchange for a moment. and then the innings’ first real pivot arrived in the fifth over. As the score sat at 9-0 (Latham 3. Conway 6) at the start of that over. Latham and Conway kept the bat ticking—then Matt Fisher’s return and the pressure from England’s quick bowling started to do what it needed.
By the sixth over, New Zealand were 14-1 (Latham 5, Nicholls 0). Henry Nicholls had come in to join Latham after the dismissal of Devon Conway.
Conway’s departure was sudden and straightforward: he was out caught and bowled leg side after being strangled down the leg side. The wicket fell when Conway was c Rew b Fisher for 9, and Matt Fisher took his second Test wicket. England’s hands were quick. Jimmy Rew had the early catch. and the inning’s shape tilted immediately with the score at 14-1.
What comes next is simple in cricket terms, but not in feeling: New Zealand now have a new batter at the crease and England have the kind of early wicket they will want to keep stacking—especially with the match framed by a week that has already left English cricket followers on edge.
After everything that’s been written in the run-up to this Test—good. bad. and described by the match-day writer as “downright ludicrous”—this day one begins with a familiar kind of tension. Root is back as captain. debutants have brought an extra edge to the crowd. and the first session has already delivered the moment that matters most: a Test wicket. taken with pace and taken quickly.
England vs New Zealand second Test Devon Conway Matt Fisher Jofra Archer Joe Root Tom Latham The Oval day one live