Black Caps v England result: New Zealand spoil Ben Stokes’ retirement party to claim test series win

Despite the wishes of Ben Stokes, the Black Caps’ “we” has overcome England’s “me” to claim a test series win, and bring the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy back to New Zealand.

A 160-run victory at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge has seen the Black Caps complete one of the great test series wins, fighting back from 1-0 down to take the next two, and send England’s captain into retirement empty-handed.

England’s capitulation was complete after lunch, as the hosts were bowled out for 212 in the 52nd over.

While the world’s eyes were fixed firmly on Stokes’ mid-test retirement, the Black Caps’ focus didn’t shift from their goal, and they became the fourth New Zealand side to win a test series on English soil after 1986, 1999 and 2021.

For all the weight given to the results of cricket’s big three, England, Australia and India, this Black Caps unit continues to punch above its weight.

This series win now sits alongside 2024’s 3-0 victory over India, and sets this Black Caps group up to become only the second team – after the great West Indian side of the 70s and 80s – to win away against all three of the game’s powerbrokers, provided they can defeat Australia at the end of this year.

Even after a chastening loss at Lord’s, the Black Caps bounced back to win the next two, despite the retirement of Kane Williamson and absence of Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Glenn Phillips for the decider.

Say what you want about the victory at The Oval, defeating a weakened England by 253 runs, the performance at Trent Bridge will go down as one of New Zealand’s finest.

While England were at full strength, a weakened Black Caps – who also lost Blair Tickner to concussion on day two – were able to fight back from a precarious position, and rallied in the second innings, before a target of 373 proved too much for the hosts to reel in.

Like it was at The Oval, New Zealand’s win was built on contributions across the board.

With the bat, captain Tom Latham and Devon Conway’s 317-run partnership on day one – both passing 150 – Daryl Mitchell’s dogged 100 not out in the second innings, to go with an imperious 94 from Rachin Ravindra which defied the horrendous wicket underneath, will all be remembered.

And even without Henry and Jamieson, man-of-the-series Nathan Smith capped off a fine display with 2-64 in the fourth innings, to go with the game-winning catch, after Zak Foulkes (3-52) did the bulk of the damage late on day four.

No scorecard will ever show it, but Tom Blundell also cannot go without praise for his role in the series win, as his standing up to the stumps for New Zealand’s fast bowlers left England’s aggressive batting order uncertain, and eventually rudderless.

Victory sees New Zealand third in the World Test Championship standings after their first two series played, climbing up one place from fourth after Sri Lanka’s defeat to the West Indies, but still behind Australia and South Africa’s points percentage.

England meanwhile will be forced to regroup without Stokes, as they build towards next year’s home Ashes series against Australia. Vice-captain Harry Brook looms as the likely new skipper, already leader of England’s white ball side in a move that could just be a lifeline for coach Brendon McCullum.

But with Stokes now gone, whether England continue with their hyper-aggressive style of play remains to be seen.

Resuming at 103-4, 270 runs shy of victory, England had effectively handed the Black Caps victory late on day four, as a re-shuffled top order threw wickets away chasing quick runs, rather than look to bat deep.

The overnight pair of Emilio Gay (10) and Joe Root (18) departed quickly to begin the final day, run out by Henry Nicholls and caught behind off Smith respectively, as any hopes of the most improbable victories dissolved.

New Zealand’s momentum was halted by O’Rourke having to depart with a hamstring injury in the opening hour, as the pair of Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson ate up 137 balls to add 75 runs. But on the stroke of lunch, Santner (2-54) trapped Atkinson lbw for 19 to claim his first wicket of the test, and leave the hosts 191-7.

Nathan Smith struck after lunch, having Jofra Archer (2) caught behind to leave New Zealand two wickets away, as Jamie Smith went down swinging to raise 50 in 87 balls.

Santner got his own back by running out No 10 Josh Tongue (2), before removing Jamie Smith for 60 – courtesy of an outstanding catch from Nathan Smith at long-on – to complete the victory.

New Zealand 438 & 288-9d

England 354 & 212 (J Smith 60; Foulkes 3-52)

New Zealand win by 160 runs

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.