England have been penalised 12 points in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings and fined 50 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over rate during the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval.

England were 182-5 at stumps on Saturday's fourth day of the second Test, needing a further 281 runs to reach a mammoth target of 463.

Joe Root needed just two runs to join Sachin Tendulkar in the exclusive club of batters to have scored 14,000 in Tests.

Ben Stokes' absence will cast a long shadow over England's bid to clinch a series victory against New Zealand when they face the Black Caps without their controversial captain this week.

The hosts have made four changes to the side that secured an 115-run victory at Lord's and helped them move up a place in the World Test Championship standings to number seven.

Joe Root could only manage innings of one and eight across the Test, with Harry Brook reclaiming the premier position that he first rose to back in December 2024.

England vs New Zealand Highlights, 1st Test Day 2: Gus Atkinson struck twice late on Day 2 as England pressed for victory in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's.

England stalwart Joe Root opened up on the prospect of chasing Sachin Tendulkar's record of most runs in the Test format. Root had nothing but praise for Tendulkar's legacy.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan sparked a social media war with a bold opinion on Virat Kohli.

England great Joe Root has come out strongly in support of white-ball captain Harry Brook after the latter's animated "Beer Smash" celebration following his century in the third ODI against Sri Lanka.