Nicholls steps into Williamson's shoes as NZ's new No.3

New Zealand have recalled Henry Nicholls to bat in a new role at No. 3 at The Oval this week after Kane Williamson 's abrupt mid-series retirement from international cricket.

Nicholls. 34, has only played two Tests since the start of 2024, both on a tour to Zimbabwe last year that Williamson missed to play in the Hundred. He has mainly batted at No. 5 in Test cricket but moved to No. 3 for that series ( his 150 not out in the second Test came from No. 4, behind a nightwatchman) and will return to the side against England this week.

Tom Latham, New Zealand's captain, confirmed the move before training on Tuesday afternoon. said that Nicholls' inclusion was a reward for his domestic form. Nicholls was the leading run-scorer in the 2025-26 Plunket Shield season. making 870 runs for Canterbury at an average of 96.66 across 11 innings split between No. 3 and 4.

"He's someone that has a lot of international experience," Latham said. "He's been out of the squad for a couple of years now,. has certainly forced his way back into the squad through weight of runs at domestic level. It's a really exciting opportunity for him to come back into the side in a role at No. 3 that he's been doing for Canterbury back home.

"For most of his career, he's batted No. 4 or 5. But what he's done for Canterbury over a long period of time. whenever he plays domestic cricket, he always tends to bat No. 3 or 4 as well. I think the good thing with Henry is he's always been able to adapt to situations… This is a really exciting opportunity for him to do something new in Test cricket."

The main alternative candidate to bat at No. 3 was Will Young. who thrived in that role when Williamson missed New Zealand's famous series win in India in late 2024 through injury. But Young's own recent form has been patchy,. he only arrived in the UK from New Zealand this weekend after his late call-up as batting cover.

Latham described himself as "obviously gutted" that Williamson had opted to retire after New Zealand's defeat in the first Test at Lord's,. said that the decision had not come as a surprise after a gradual tapering of his international commitments over the previous two years.

"It's been a bit of a process over a period of time," Latham said. "We've seen over his 16-year career, every time he's pulled the shirt on or he's been to training, he's given 100 percent. he's demonstrated the qualities that this team has, and he's done that for such a long period of time.

"For him to acknowledge that he's not quite right, or he can't necessarily give that 100 percent, is testament to the player he is,. also the person he is as well, that he's going to give someone else an opportunity to do that… We're obviously gutted not to have him, but we also acknowledge what he's done over his career.

"He told the guys a few days after that Test. it was an emotional time… I'm sure guys will reflect [how lucky they are] to have had the opportunity to play with him. I'm certainly like that - [I've been] fortunate enough to play most of my career with Kane. What he's given to this group, what he's given to individuals, that legacy will certainly live on."

Latham hinted that New Zealand are likely to make a single change from the team that lost at Lord's. provided that Matt Henry - who suffered back spasms after his first spell of the first Test - gets through training unscathed on Tuesday afternoon. It stands in clear contrast to England. who will make at least four changes after a chaotic week off the field.

"It's about us adapting to what's thrown at us," Latham said, while declining to be drawn on Ben Stokes. Gus Atkinson's absence after a late-night scuffle at a Chelsea nightclub. "Obviously it affects their balance a little bit in terms of how they operate from a balance point of view," he added. "But nothing changes from our point of view: we do our homework on each opposition."

New Zealand were heavily beaten in the first Test. are not losing sleep over their efforts on a pitch deemed 'unsatisfactory' by the ICC. "We did a lot of things right at Lord's," Latham said. "The surface sort of dictated things a little bit… We're in a really good place. just because one game didn't go our way, it doesn't mean you need to reinvent the wheel."