England’s preparations for the second Test against New Zealand, which starts at Trent Bridge on Friday, have been boosted by the apparent recovery of Jack Leach, withdrawn from the opening match after an hour’s play after suffering concussion in the field. Leach will be assessed again on Thursday but is on course to prove himself available for selection, while Ben Stokes is said to be fully fit despite bowling gingerly in the nets on Wednesday afternoon.
Should there be any doubt over the captain’s ability to bowl England may decide to bring in another seamer, Craig Overton, with Leach and Matt Parkinson, who replaced him in the team at Lord’s, missing out. One bowler they will certainly be unable to call on, for this or the final match in the series at Headingley in a fortnight, is the injury-plagued Ollie Robinson, who, after an injection in his back on Tuesday, has been ruled out of action for at least three weeks.
