Baker strikes on England debut before New Zealand fight back / Photo: Glyn KIRK - AFP
Baker strikes on England debut before New Zealand fight back
Sonny Baker struck on his Test debut as England looked to put the Ben Stokes saga behind them against New Zealand at the Oval on Wednesday.
New Zealand, sent into bat in the second Test, were 107-4 when fast bowler Baker dismissed Rachin Ravindra for 33.
But at tea on the first day the Black Caps had recovered to 166-4 following a stand of 59 between Daryl Mitchell (33 not out) and Tom Blundell (23 not out).
Baker showed no sign of nerves as he produced encouraging figures of 1-32 in 10 overs.
England dropped captain Stokes and Gus Atkinson after the pair broke a team curfew following their 115-run win in the first Test at Lord's.
The duo stayed out in a late-night drinking session which reportedly ended in a physical confrontation involving a Saracens rugby player.
England made five changes, with three debutants in Hampshire quick Baker, batsman Jordan Cox and wicket-keeper James Rew.
Ollie Robinson, who took seven wickets at Lord's, was ruled out through injury while Jofra Archer returned following his IPL commitments to spearhead England's pace attack.
Rew was a late call-up after Jamie Smith withdrew on Tuesday following the birth of his second child.
Playing in only his second Test, four years after his debut, Matthew Fisher had Devon Conway caught behind by Rew for nine, rewarding the selectors' decision to pick him instead of dropped spinner Shoaib Bashir.
Baker, 23, also hit impressive speeds of 88 mph (142 kph) in his first over.
Henry Nicholls has been given the unenviable task of replacing Kane Williamson at number three.
Williamson announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect following the series opener.
Nicholls was nearly run out for five when Tom Latham set off for a single, but Josh Tongue's side-foot kick missed the stumps.
Archer had Latham brilliantly caught by Jacob Bethell, diving high to his right at gully, for 27 off 75 balls.
Nicholls had added just one run to his lunch score of 23 when he played on to Tongue after being forced back by the bowler.
Ravindra scored 24 of his runs in boundaries before he was well caught by Bethell off Baker.
New Zealand's fifth-wicket duo hit several fine strokes, although Mitchell, losing concentration, almost holed out to one of Harry Brook's slow seamers.
S.Bruno--GdR
