England captain Joe Root: "We're going to bowl. We want to make first use of this surface, it's a great opportunity for the team."

On putting on the captain's jacket again: "It's probably a bit tighter than it was. The guys have been amazing this week, they've been very calm, it feels like they've been in a great space."

On England's debutants: "Very excited. There's huge amount of skill and excitement about what they can deliver. And the fact they're inexperienced means there's not a lot of knowledge for the opposition."

On the decision to resume the captaincy: "I wouldn't necessarily say hesitation, I love playing for this team, this coaching staff."

Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

I think it's a big toss for Joe to have won for the team. I think with this England attack, the important thing will be making sure they can build those dots and maidens.

Image source, PA Media

Joe Root tosses the coin as England captain in a Test match for the first time since he was at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada in March 2022.

He's sporting the same England blazer he wore while skipper having acknowledged in a news conference yesterday he had to get it down from the loft.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham calls heads. It lands a tail and Root decides to bowl first.

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport journalist at The Oval

The morning rain was nothing more than drizzle but has delayed the start.

It felt like an easy decision to bowl first half an hour ago but is now brightening up.

That said, plenty of runs have been had in the fourth innings here in recent years. You probably have to bowl, especially if you haven't picked a spinner.

Image source, BBC Weather

First things first, there was a bit of drizzle around this morning at The Oval which has pushed things back a little.

The toss will now be at at 11:00 BST - 30 minutes later than scheduled - with play due to get under way at 11:30.

Thankfully the forecast for the rest of the day - and the Test - looks pretty good.

Image source, Getty Images

Yes, in case you happen to be holidaying in a different solar system for the past nine days and have't heard...England have an interim captain, in the form of ex-skipper Joe Root, for the second Test against the Kiwis.

Ben Stokes, a close friend of Root's, was left out of England's squad after he breached the team's midnight curfew the night after victory in the first Test and was present when a member of England's security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player.

Stokes' future as Test captain is murky, with England head coach Brendon McCullum not offering any guarantees when he faced the media. Ditto Rob Key, managing director of the England team.

When, or rather if, Stokes returns to play and/or captain England is not certain with an investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board ongoing.

Image source, Getty Images

When will I see you again?

When will our hearts beat together?

Are we in love or just friends?

Is this my beginning or is this the end?

It's been an eventful week or so for English cricket which has left us with just as many questions as answers, particularly regarding the future of England captain Ben Stokes.

Lyrics from the Three Degrees neatly sum up, perhaps, how some of us are feeling at the moment.

Welcome to coverage of the second Test between England and New Zealand from The Oval.