Nicholls, 34, has played just two Tests since the start of 2024, both on a tour to Zimbabwe last year in which Williamson missed playing per cent. He mainly finished fifth in Test cricket but moved up to third for that series (
His 150 not out in the second Test He came from No. 4, behind the night guard) and will return to the team against England this week.
Tom LathamThe New Zealand captain confirmed the move ahead of training on Tuesday afternoon and said Nicholls’ inclusion was a reward for his domestic form. It was Nichols
Top scorer in the 2025-26 Plunket Shield season, where he achieved 870 Canterbury runs at an average of 96.66 across 11 innings split between Nos. 3 and 4.
“He is someone with a lot of international experience,” Latham said. “He’s been out of the team for a couple of years, but he’s certainly worked his way back into the team through the running backs at domestic level. It’s a really exciting opportunity for him to get back into the team in the No. 3 role that he did with Canterbury back home.”
“For most of his career, he batted at No. 4 or 5. But what he did for Canterbury over a long period of time, whenever he played domestic cricket, he always tended to bat at No. 3 or 4 as well. I think the good thing with Henry is that 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 replacement candidate to bat at number three was H.E
Will Youngwho flourished in that role when Williamson missed New Zealand’s famous series win in India in late 2024 due to injury. But Young’s recent form has been patchy, and he only arrived in the UK from New Zealand this weekend after a late call-up as batting cover.
Latham described himself as “visibly upset” that Williamson chose to retire after New Zealand
Defeat in the first Test at Lord’sBut he said that the decision was not surprising after the gradual reduction of its international commitments over the past two years.
“It was a small operation over a period of time,” Latham said. “We’ve seen over his 16-year career, every time he pulled on the jersey or went to training, he gave 100 percent and showed the qualities that this team has, and he did that for a long period of time.
“For him to admit that he’s not quite right, or that he can’t necessarily give it 100 percent, that’s a testament to the player that he is, but also to the person that he is as well, and that he would give someone else a chance to do that… Obviously we’re sad that he’s not there, but we also acknowledge what he’s done over his career.
“He told the players a few days after that test and it was an emotional time… I’m sure the players will be thinking [how lucky they are] To have the opportunity to play with him. I’m definitely like that – [I’ve been] I was lucky enough to play most of my career with Kane. “What he gave to this group, and what he gave to individuals, that legacy will certainly live on.”
Latham hinted that New Zealand would likely make one change to the team that lost at Lord’s, provided they do so
Henry died – who suffered back spasms after his first period of the first Test – trained unharmed on Tuesday afternoon. This is in marked contrast to England, who will make at least four changes after a chaotic week off the pitch.
“It’s about adapting to what comes at us,” Latham said, while refusing to rely on the absence of Ben Stokes and Jos Atkinson after a match.
Late night brawl at Chelsea nightclub. “It obviously impacts their balance a little bit in terms of how they operate from a balancing standpoint,” he added. “But nothing changes from our point of view: we are doing our duty towards every opposition.”
New Zealand were badly beaten in the first Test but did not lose sleep over their efforts to score a goal
The pitch was deemed “unsatisfactory” by the ICC.. “We did a lot of things right at Lord’s,” Latham said. “It’s the superficiality that dictates things a little bit… We’re in a really good position, and the fact that one game didn’t go our way doesn’t mean you need to reinvent the wheel.”
