England v New Zealand, 3rd Test player ratings: Jofra Archer and Ben Duckett impressed with Ben Stokes’ Test farewell | cricket news

England lost to New Zealand by 160 runs in the series-deciding third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, after Ben Stokes retired midway through his last match as an international cricketer – here’s how the players rated…

Ben Duckett – 8

Batting: 113 and 36

With a century at the end, his form seemed to be under threat all series.

His 99-ball 113, including 19 boundaries, saw England climb to second on the evening – a remarkable feat given New Zealand’s 317-0 just 24 hours earlier.

Although he was kicking himself for getting out, Nathan Smith pulled on a stump that saw England collapse to 354 all out and 84 short in the first innings the next morning.

He and Stokes had some fun at the top of the order in the second innings, albeit very briefly. His innings wasn’t as chaotic as the captain and others, he couldn’t do much about the Ben Sears delivery that blasted to a length and proved his undoing.

Emilio Gay – 4

Batting: 0 and 10

Technically, he should be dropped down the order here to make way for Stokes in the second innings.

In that sense he worked hard, and when he finally came to the crease at No. 6, England’s hopes hung by a thread.

Much like the hosts, he faded as the series wound down after a promising start with two fifties in his first three Test innings.

Here, he gloves Will O’Rourke for five balls down leg and then gets fouled by the brilliant Smith for the second time.

Jacob Bethel – 7

Batting: 74 and 0; Bowling: 0-18 (1st innings)

A welcome return to form with the bat in the first innings, as he shared a 179-run partnership with Duckett that looked like England were in good shape, until he sent Joe Root back to the pavilion in the first three overs of the third morning to shake the hosts.

It was more ‘Sydney vintage’ Bethel – and his brilliant first century since the fifth Ashes Test in January – than the player with a combined 29 runs to his name in the first two Tests of the summer.

That said, there was still a horrendous misjudgment from him to get out in his second innings, which saw him get out lbw when he was outarmed to a returner from Zak Fowlkes.

Joe Root – 6

Batting: 21 and 18; Bowling: 1-7 (First Innings)

There will be more memorable Test match contributions from Root, that’s for sure.

He may have felt unlucky in both innings though, an lbw out to Smith at the keeper – which was becoming a bit of a problem for him, of course – and then a combination of brilliant fielding by Henry Nicholls and a poor call from his partner Jamie Smith that proved his undoing when he was run out in the final over.

Devon Conway claimed a bonus wicket after his and Tom Latham’s 317-run opening stand for New Zealand.

Harry Brooke – 4

Batting: 58 and 21

Where to start with Brooke?

He scored a decent fifty in the first innings, but not being at the crease the less said about his bowlers, and especially his dismissals, the better.

Of course, Stokes set the tone for the team with the way he batted at the top, but the field was spread further when Brook was introduced and a man was placed at deep fine-leg for the shot he attempted.

The New Zealander said it himself when caught on the stumps’ microphone: “What are they doing?”

Brooke has too much talent to toss his wicket so carelessly, and it’s becoming too frequent a habit since the Ashes.

Jamie Smith – 6

Batting: 1 and 60

Another who has signaled a welcome return to form with the bat after a long lean spell.

There wasn’t much at stake with Smith conceding 60 off 90 balls on the morning of the final, with the series already slipping away from England, but there was some fine development in the innings thanks to eight boundaries off Mitchell Santner’s superb straight sixes.

He was solid behind the stumps – even standing up to Jofra Archer at one point – although he dropped Latham for 129, and combined with Root to drop the nightwatchman O’Rourne the next morning, when he was a bit loose in the drive to get out in his first innings.

Ben Stokes – 7

Batting: 15 and 30; Bowling: 4-70 and 2-49

It’s hard not to work on Stokes’ entire body when grading his farewell Test appearances in terms of the glorious moments he’s shared with us over the 13-plus years since his debut.

He saved one more for the end of his 122 Test cap, taking a wicket on his first ball after the news of his impending international retirement broke at 3.25pm ​​on Sunday, sparking wild scenes of celebration from the captain and the stands.

Stokes was in the middle of the 11-over, lion-hearted spell between lunch and tea that has become his trademark and which punctuated his first innings with 4-70 as he took his 250th wicket in Tests.

The batting, as it has been for some time, was far from his best, although his 20-ball innings as an opener – albeit a very short one – was pure box office.

Gus Atkinson – 6

Bowling: 1-79 and 2-50; Batting: 23 and 19

A more low-key return to the Test side for Atkinson when he, along with Stokes, missed the second Test at the Oval after their visit to Chelsea Nightclub after the series-opening win at Lord’s seemed like a lifetime ago!

He was good with the ball, if not his best, in both innings – although, to be warned, he and the rest of England’s attack had to toil in the unfortunate heat when the first-day pitch was at its best for batting.

And speaking of batting: Atkinson, oddly enough, faced the most deliveries of any England player in Test matches, a total of 156 balls.

Jofra Archer – 7

Bowling: 2-75 and 4-53; Batting: 15 and 2

A really positive week for Archer, with 11 wickets in the last two Tests to see him named England’s Man of the Series.

Back-to-back Tests, it must be added, just three days apart, act as a real positive given his injury problems and availability issues in the past.

He always carries a threat and arguably deserved more than the six-wicket return he achieved. He was superb in the second innings, in particular, as he threatened runs for New Zealand in the first three overs of his new-ball spell, dismissing their openers, and then bounced Tom Blundell and accounted for Smith in consecutive overs after lunch on day four.

Josh Tongue – 4

Bowling: 0-75 and 0-75

Has not bowled as badly as his stats and again, it was particularly tough for the pacers on the first two days.

That said, Tong’s return across the series – eight wickets at an average of 49.87 – is poor, especially considering the few positives he had coming out of the Ashes when he took 18 wickets in his three appearances in the 20s.

The only member of the attack to play three Tests perhaps contributed to his struggles here, unable to carry his usual threat in sapping conditions, while he proved particularly costly in the second innings.

Archer and Atkinson roughly two per over and less than Stokes, Tong cost 5.35 runs in 14 overs.

Shoaib Bashir – 5

Bowling: 2-105 and 1-42

You can’t fault his effort and commitment, not just with the ball, but on the field too – he took two wickets in two balls chasing a certain boundary off Nicholls on the first evening.

Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra were forced to score three runs, bringing the latter on strike who then top-edged a pull to Atkinson, before Nicholls was dismissed on Archer’s next delivery.

He struggled to maintain length in the first innings and as a result, was perhaps used a touch less in the second innings when there was more help on offer.

England vs New Zealand Test Series Results

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