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Matthew Potts takes Chris Woakes' place as England's only change for the third Test
Matthew Potts takes Chris Woakes' place as England's only change for the third Test
Matthew Potts will earn his 10th Test cap as England make one change for their final Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park.
Matthew Potts will play his 10th Test as England makes one change for their final match against New Zealand at Seddon Park. Chris Woakes, who played in the first two Tests, will sit out.
Since his debut in the summer of 2022, Potts has taken 31 wickets at an average of 29.22. He played the first five games under Ben Stokes as captain, including three against New Zealand, where he impressed by taking 14 wickets.
After being dropped for Ollie Robinson during the second Test against South Africa in the summer, Matthew Potts has had fewer chances to play.
The 26-year-old only played one Test in 2023, against Ireland at Lord’s. This summer, he featured in the first two Tests against Sri Lanka but was left out of the third as England gave Leicestershire left-arm seamer Josh Hull a chance. Potts also played one game during the Pakistan tour, taking solid figures of 3 for 85 in 31.2 overs on a spinner-friendly pitch in Multan.
With England leading 2-0 and the series already won, captain Ben Stokes has decided to give Potts another opportunity in the final Test of 2024 in Hamilton. Potts is likely to take the new ball in place of Chris Woakes.
“It’s another chance to look at one of our fast bowlers who we see as important for the future,” Stokes said about Potts’ selection. “Being 2-0 up makes it easier to make this change.
“Pottsy has amazing stamina—he can bowl all day. He’s also a very skilled bowler, and he’s improved by working with Jimmy [Anderson]. He’s versatile and can bowl with the new ball or stick to short-ball plans. His fitness lets him bowl 20 overs one day and come back for another 20 the next.”
Stokes also praised Woakes' output on this tour. The 35-year-old has taken six wickets at 29.16 with the Kookaburra ball as the leader of the attack. That has included Kane Williamson twice.
An overseas average of 51 coming into the winter has been reduced slightly to 48.93. And though there is uncertainty as to whether Woakes makes the trip to Australia next winter for the 2025-26 Ashes, Stokes believes the Warwickshire veteran has shown his class.
"Chris Woakes came into the winter tours with a bit of scrutiny behind his away record but I think what he has done over the winter has proved a lot of people wrong," said Stokes. "He's been fantastic, he was great in Pakistan and pretty influential over here."
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