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Starting center Dereck Lively II has been out since mid-January with a stress fracture in his right ankle, and his replacement, Daniel Gafford, suffered a right knee sprain Feb. 10.

The 29-year-old has suffered a recurring stress fracture in his elbow and a back stress fracture since he last played Test cricket in 2021.

England, having finally won a toss, made the perfect start through a player making his first appearance of the series – and first under McCullum after two back stress fractures since 2022.

Wood, 35, has not played since the first Test against Sri Lanka last summer after a stress fracture was discovered in his elbow while he was sidelined with a minor thigh issue.

I'd had a few months out with a stress fracture to the ball of my foot and it felt like a Christmas present when I proved myself fit enough to join the squad in Durban.