'If Stokes plays, he captains' - Michael Vaughan

The TMS Podcast reflects on the second day of the second Test Match, where New Zealand emerged as the strong contender, leading England by 179 runs as they entered their second innings. The episode discusses the performance of both teams, starting with New Zealand's batting, which culminated in a total of 391 runs, largely thanks to Glenn Phillips who scored his first Test century. England's bowling tactics were scrutinized, particularly the decision to keep Jofra Archer from bowling early on despite their desperate need for wickets. The commentators express disbelief at the tactical approaches, noting that England allowed New Zealand to build momentum after their bowlers failed to deliver, with dropped catches further complicating their efforts. They stress the importance of maintaining concentration during critical moments of the game, which England seemed to overlook with significant errors leading to a perilous position in the match. They also analyze individual players' performances, including the tactical missteps in the bowling strategy. Discussions included the criticisms of Joe Root's captaincy decisions and whether Ben Stokes would return to captaincy, outlining a general atmosphere of uncertainty within the England team. The episode concludes with reflections on key performances, particularly Phillips's innings, and the need for England to recover in the upcoming sessions.