Duckett run out as England trail New Zealand at The Oval

England’s second Test at The Oval swung on a single moment of hesitation. Ben Duckett had torn into New Zealand’s attack with 36 from 25 balls, including five fours, before Nathan Smith was credited with a run-out that removed him at 45-1 and changed the pace of the morning.

What had looked like another assertive England start instead became a reminder of how quickly Test cricket punishes a lapse. Duckett’s dismissal came after a burst of early scoring that had put the home side in command of the tempo; once he departed, the balance of the session shifted, even though England later reached 68-1 with Emilio Gay and Jacob Bethell at the crease.

New Zealand had already done the damage with the bat. They were bowled out for 391 in their first innings, driven by Glenn Phillips’ maiden Test century of 100 from 135 balls, with 18 fours, and backed by Tom Blundell’s 51 and Kyle Jamieson’s 41. Phillips’ innings gave the touring side a total that forced England to absorb pressure rather than dictate terms.

The match, played at the Kennington Oval in London from June 17-21, was the second Test of New Zealand’s three-match tour of England in the 2025-27 World Test Championship. England came into the game after a 115-run win over New Zealand at Lord’s on June 7, a result that dropped the Black Caps from second to fourth in the WTC standings, with only the top two teams set to reach the June 2027 final.

England also arrived with a reshaped XI and squad. Joe Root captained in the absence of Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson was left out, and Jofra Archer returned after missing the Lord’s Test. England also handed squad places to James Rew, Jordan Cox and Sonny Baker, underlining a period of rotation and adjustment as the series moved toward its final stretch.

For England, Duckett’s run-out was more than the loss of an opener. It exposed the risk built into their aggressive approach and handed New Zealand a valuable pause after Phillips had already given them a substantial first-innings platform. With the third Test scheduled for June 25-29 in Nottingham, the series still had room to move, but The Oval showed how fast a session can turn when one sharp fielding moment lands at the right time.