England collapsed to a 160-run defeat at Trent Bridge in Ben Stokes’ final Test to hand New Zealand a 2-1 victory, the first time the Kiwis have won a series in England since 1999.
Daily Mail Sport runs the rule over the players used by Brendon McCullum in the three-Test series to determine who soared and who sunk.
ENGLAND
Ben Duckett 7.5
His series haul of 246 runs was the highest on either side, and it might have been more had Gay not run him out at The Oval. Looked back to his best during a long-overdue century at Trent Bridge.
England opener Ben Duckett’s haul of 246 runs was the highest on either side
Emilio Gay 6
Made a gutsy half-century on a bad pitch to set up the Lord’s win, and top-scored with another fifty in the first innings at The Oval. But a series average of 23 showed there is no quick fix to replacing Zak Crawley.
Jacob Bethell 4
Couldn’t kick on from his mesmerising hundred in Sydney. Of his 103 runs, 74 came in one innings, and his judgment around off stump was iffy. Four wickets for his left-arm spin were a bonus.
Joe Root 5.5
Could do little with the captaincy hospital pass he received at The Oval, and never came to grips with New Zealand’s fast-medium accuracy: he was lbw four times in a row. His series average of 28 was his lowest since the 2022-23 tour of Pakistan.
Harry Brook 6
Made three half-centuries, but nothing more than 58, and struggled with New Zealand’s tactics of wicketkeeper Tom Blundell standing up to the stumps. His nine-ball 21 on the fourth evening at Trent Bridge was a dereliction of duty.
Harry Brook’s innings on the fourth evening at Trent Bridge was a dereliction of duty
Jamie Smith 6
Struggled more than usual with the gloves, but played two sound innings either side of missing The Oval on paternity leave: a useful 39 at Lord’s, and a fighting 60 on the last day in Nottingham.
Ben Stokes 6
His state of mind hung over the entire series – great for New Zealand, less so for England. His batting and bowling continued to go in opposite directions, and the emotion of the fourth day at Trent Bridge clouded his team’s judgment. But we’ll miss him.
James Rew 4
It reflected badly on the management that Rew was allowed to keep wicket when he was clearly unready. Both his dismissals at The Oval came with only minutes left in the day – another sign of his inexperience.
Jordan Cox 6
Made 27 and 25 at The Oval in a couple of lost causes from No 7. May yet emerge as England’s wicketkeeper if Smith keeps missing chances.
Gus Atkinson 7
His series was interrupted by the Rex Rooms saga, which was a pity after he bowled so well at Lord’s. Went at just 2.82 an over, making him England’s meanest bowler.
Ollie Robinson 8
Began his comeback with a triple-wicket maiden at Lord’s, where he collected career-best match figures of seven for 77. But knee trouble, and England’s continued lack of faith in his fitness, meant he didn’t play again.
Josh Tongue 6
Eight wickets at nearly 50 each made this his worst Test series yet, but he enjoyed little luck, with plenty of edges flying through sparsely populated slip cordons. New Zealand rate him highly.
England bowler Josh Tongue enjoyed little luck with edges flying through the slips
Jofra Archer 7
Missed the win at Lord’s because of the IPL, but his bowling improved as the series went on. England must manage him all the way through to the 2027 Ashes.
Matthew Fisher 6
Was flattered by match figures of five for 120 at The Oval, though he batted gutsily for a half-century. No guarantee he will ever adds to his two caps.
Sonny Baker 5.5
His infectious enthusiasm could make him the spiritual heir to Mark Wood, but his wholehearted fast bowling is still very raw.
Sonny Baker’s infectious enthusiasm could make him the spiritual heir to Mark Wood
Shoaib Bashir 5
Ignored at Lord’s and dropped for The Oval, he showed moments of spark at Trent Bridge, but still went at nearly four an over. Worryingly, England’s No 1 spinner remains a work in progress.
NEW ZEALAND
Tom Latham 6.5; Devon Conway 7; Kane Williamson 3; Henry Nicholls 7.5; Rachin Ravindra 6.5; Daryl Mitchell 8; Tom Blundell 7.5; Glenn Phillips 8; Mitchell Santner 4; Nathan Smith 7.5; Kyle Jamieson 7; Matt Henry 8; Will O’Rourke 7; Blair Tickner 5; Ben Sears 5; Zak Foulkes 7.
