England’s year ended with a heavy defeat to New Zealand, who secured a consolation victory in the third and final Test, sending seamer Tim Southee into retirement.
Chasing an unlikely target of 658, England were dismissed for 234 midway through the fourth afternoon, losing by 423 runs. This marked their largest defeat to the Black Caps in terms of runs and their fourth-largest loss overall.
Jacob Bethell enhanced his reputation with a 76, surviving a fierce spell from New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke. Bethell formed a 104-run partnership with Joe Root, who scored 54. After Root’s dismissal, Harry Brook was dismissed cheaply for one, and wickets fell regularly in Hamilton. Vice-captain Ollie Pope’s ill-advised reverse scoop attempt, resulting in his dismissal for 17 off Matt Henry, highlighted England’s struggles.
Captain Ben Stokes, who aggravated a left hamstring injury on day three, was unable to bat. His fitness will be assessed on Wednesday, and he had been expected to undergo a scan ahead of the fourth day.
The final collapse, with England losing their last four wickets for just 19 runs, meant Southee did not need to bowl after lunch. He instead led his team off the field, concluding his 16-year, 107-Test career with 391 wickets.
Despite the defeat, England won the series 2-1 and will now turn their attention to white-ball cricket after Christmas, with a Test series against Zimbabwe in May.
From the high of a historic victory over India in Hyderabad, England ended the year on a low note in Hamilton. For the fourth time in five series, England lost the final match, with three of them being dead rubbers. Their victory in New Zealand, their first series win there since 2008, was marred by this heavy defeat.
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England’s decision to bowl first can be questioned, but the game was effectively lost on day two when they were bowled out for 143, including a collapse of 8-66.
England’s record for the year stands at nine wins and eight losses. Given that eight of their Tests were in Asia, and they have introduced several young players, they likely deserve more credit than the record suggests. However, they face several questions heading into the new year, particularly concerning opener Zak Crawley’s form and off-spinner Shoaib Bashir’s struggles. The biggest concern is whether Ben Stokes can remain fit to serve as an all-rounder.
Looking ahead, 2025 will be a defining year for Stokes, Brendon McCullum, and England, with series against India at home and the Ashes in Australia on the horizon.
Bethell pushes his case further
A surprising selection for the tour, and an even bigger surprise to bat at number three, Bethell now has three half-centuries, making him a strong contender for future selection. While all his fifties have come in second innings, this one was particularly impressive considering the way he handled O’Rourke, who had unsettled Root and Brook, two of the world’s top batters.
England’s first hour on the fourth day was relatively calm, with Bethell playing late and driving well, especially with a six off Southee. However, Root was dismissed lbw to Mitchell Santner, and Bethell, after surviving O’Rourke’s challenging spell, was dismissed for 59 off Southee.
Pope’s bizarre dismissal typified England’s performance, while Atkinson, Potts, and Carse also fell cheaply. England’s collapse saw them bat for only 83 overs in the entire match.
Black Caps’ past, present, and future
After a disappointing start to the series, New Zealand bounced back in style, with key contributions from Will Young and Santner, as well as Kane Williamson’s century at Seddon Park.
The spotlight was on Tim Southee, who ended his career on home soil. He finishes as New Zealand’s second-highest Test wicket-taker and boasts an impressive 98 sixes.
In reality, Southee was a minor figure in New Zealand’s attack, with Henry and the exciting O’Rourke taking center stage. The 23-year-old O’Rourke delivered a blistering spell, reaching 93 mph, and dismissed both Root and Brook multiple times in the match.
Southee didn’t need to bowl in the final stages, as Santner finished with seven wickets in the match to go with solid contributions with the bat.
Reaction
Tim Southee: “I want to thank New Zealand Cricket, my family, and my teammates. They made this journey unforgettable. I’ve loved every minute.”
Ben Stokes: “We wanted to win every game and leave with three victories, so it’s disappointing to end the Test series this way.”
Tom Latham: “It’s great to finish the series on a high. We weren’t at our best in the first two games, but the way we adapted to this surface was impressive.”
