England head into this Test with a completely different look and feel after what has been a  turbulent week for the side. The absence of Ben Stokes, along with Gus Atkinson, has  forced England into a significant reshuffle. Joe Root will captain the team, while England  have had to rework their bowling attack and overall balance. Sonny Baker and Jordan Cox  are both set to make their debuts, resulting in a side that looks very different from the one  fans are used to seeing, albeit still a very talented one.

The decision to replace Stokes with Root as captain appears to be a sensible one. At this  stage, there may be some hesitation about handing Harry Brook the role on a more  permanent basis. The situation surrounding Stokes remains unclear, particularly in terms  of what it means for the future. There is still uncertainty about how things will develop and  whether any long-term decisions will be required.

For now, however, Root taking charge with Brook serving as his deputy seems a wise move  from the management team. It provides continuity and experience during a period of  instability. More importantly, there is hope that Stokes will eventually return to lead  England’s Test side once again.

From a personal perspective, this situation does not appear to be a sackable offence. I  strongly feel that Stokes should be given the opportunity to return and continue his  leadership of the team. He has been an outstanding captain and player for England, and it  would be disappointing if his time in charge were to end in dramatic fashion. At this point, it is difficult to know exactly what decision he will make regarding his future, but it would be  surprising if England’s management were to remove him from the position. Ultimately, the decision may rest more with Stokes himself than with the selectors or administrators.

Any current or former international captain will tell you that the role eventually comes  down to energy, desire and the will to continue. Captaining an international side is  demanding, and those factors often determine how long a leader remains in the position.  The hope is that Stokes still possesses that energy because he has done an exceptional job  as captain. Nevertheless, there is currently an undeniable sense of uncertainty  surrounding the situation.

England’s bowling attack is another major talking point. It is an attack filled with talent but  also one that lacks experience. Ollie Robinson’s absence could prove significant. His  contribution goes beyond simply taking wickets. His experience, control and ability to bowl  with skill provide a level of reliability that England may miss in this match.

The return of Jofra Archer, however, brings an exciting dimension to the side. His pace and  match-winning ability add genuine X-factor. Alongside him are exciting young bowlers such  as Sonny Baker, Matthew Fisher and Josh Tongue, who are regarded as an outstanding  talent.

I world open the bowling with Tongue and Archer. England may choose a different route  and hand the new ball to Baker or Fisher, but Tongue and Archer would appear to offer a  compelling combination. It will certainly be fascinating to see how the attack is deployed.

One of the more interesting selection decisions concerns the absence of a specialist  spinner. Ideally, there would be a spinner in any Test match line-up. However, the  reasoning behind England’s decision is understandable. With so much concern  surrounding the inexperience of the seam attack, the selectors have opted to strengthen  the batting instead.

That decision has opened the door for Jordan Cox, who is capable of batting aggressively  and adding valuable runs with the lower order. While there may still be some discomfort  about going into a Test match without a spinner, the logic behind the decision is clear and,  in these circumstances, probably justified.

There could yet be another selection issue to resolve. Jamie Smith may ultimately miss out  because he and his wife are expecting their second child. If that happens, James Rew  could find himself in the playing XI despite initially being selected as the spare batter.

There will undoubtedly be people who question why Rew is not coming directly into the  side ahead of Jordan Cox, especially given his position as the reserve batter for the first  Test. However, the rationale is understandable. Rew’s selection would primarily be about  providing cover for the top six, whereas England’s current balance has changed  significantly due to the absence of Stokes. That altered balance has influenced the  decisions being made.

Overall, the management and selectors appear to have handled a difficult situation  reasonably well. The team now has a completely different feel to it, and that alone makes  this Test match particularly intriguing.

Conditions are expected to play a role as well. The pitch should be significantly better than  the one used at Lord’s, which was widely viewed as poor. It would be surprising if the  surface at The Oval does not provide a much better contest between bat and ball. As a  result, the match itself could have a very different character from what was seen  previously.

These changes inevitably give New Zealand a greater opportunity to get back into the series  after falling 1-0 behind. However, New Zealand also have their own major setback to deal  with in the absence of Kane Williamson, who recently announced his retirement fro  international cricket. Losing a player of his quality is a significant blow for any team.

Will Young has been called into the squad and, despite only arriving recently, could be the  preferred replacement. Henry Nicholls is another option and has been in excellent  domestic form. However, I fee, having seen him play, that Will Young may be better suited  to filling Williamson’s role in the side.

New Zealand’s bowling attack remains highly impressive. With players such as Nathan  Smith, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke potentially forming the attack, and  perhaps some contribution from Mitchell Santner if available, they possess a high-quality  bowling unit. I hope Henry is fully fit after concerns regarding his condition during the  previous Test.

New Zealand should be expected to be highly competitive. England’s extensive changes  mean the visitors have a genuine opportunity to fight their way back into the series.

From England’s perspective, much of the focus will remain on how the team responds to  recent events. It will be a significant test for the management group and for Root as stand in captain. There is also considerable excitement surrounding some of the new faces.

Baker is viewed as an impact bowler. It will be interesting to see how Root chooses to use  him. The preference would be to deploy him in short, aggressive spells rather than asking  him to bowl long opening spells. Bringing him into the attack in bursts could maximise his  effectiveness, although England may have different plans.

Cox is another player who generates excitement. Much of his reputation has been built  through franchise cricket and one-day cricket, but he is an exceptionally gifted cricketer  capable of changing the course of a game very quickly. This feels like an exciting selection  and a well-timed opportunity for him.

He was close to getting his chance a couple of years ago before injury intervened during  the New Zealand tour. There is every possibility that he is now a better player than he was  then, which could make this opportunity even more valuable. He certainly looks like  someone capable of establishing himself at international level.

All of this makes for a fascinating contest. England have been forced to regroup and rethink  their plans, while New Zealand sense an opportunity to get back into the series. With fresh  faces, leadership changes and uncertainty surrounding several key figures, the stage is set  for a compelling Test match.