On day two of the second Test at the Oval, England aimed to quickly dismiss the New Zealand innings but fell short, leading to heavy criticism of their performance. Sky Sports' Michael Atherton described the morning session using terms like "inept," "scruffy," and "brainless," as New Zealand capitalized on England's poor bowling and fielding to score 100 runs in just 19.2 overs, finishing their innings at 391 all out.

Glenn Phillips shone with a courageous maiden Test century, supported by Kyle Jamieson. However, it was England's lackluster tactics that made it easier for the Kiwis. The day began with debutant Sonny Baker struggling to find his rhythm, with the team leaking runs and failing to aim for the stumps.

Key moments included:

• England's bowlers conceding 27 runs in the first three overs.
• Ben Duckett dropping Jamieson when he was on 15.
• Jofra Archer being underutilized, only entering the attack after 15 overs with the new ball.

The inability to dismiss New Zealand's lower order has been a recurring issue for England, noted by Nasser Hussain, who pointed out their ineffective short-pitched bowling strategy. England's inexperience, especially with several debutants, compounded their struggles, as they failed to execute basic bowling fundamentals.

As the match progresses, New Zealand holds a firm advantage, and England's morning session leaves them with much to ponder as they strive to recover in the remaining days of the Test.