England take two wickets after Joe Root steps back into the captain role for the second Test against New Zealand, according to reports. With Ben Stokes absent, Root leads the side and oversees England’s response as they begin the match with a relatively positive start. The outlets agree that England’s early breakthroughs come in the form of two wickets during the New Zealand innings, improving England’s position after the initial phase of play. While details of the dismissed players and exact timings are not provided in the supplied excerpts, the reporting focuses on Root’s return to captaincy and the impact of England’s early wickets. The Independent also characterises England’s start as “decent,” indicating that England’s bowling finds a way to break through after Stokes’s non-participation. Overall, the accounts present the same core sequence: Root reverts to captaincy, Stokes is not playing, and England secure two wickets as the second Test gets under way.