New Zealand complete thrashing of England to claim series win

NICK HOWSON AT EDGBASTON: The Black Caps warm-up for the World Test Championship against India with a eight-wicket success to condemn Joe Root to a first

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Edgbaston (fourth day of five): England 303 & 122, New Zealand 388 & 41-2 - New Zealand won by eight wickets

Scorecard

New Zealand warmed up for the World Test Championship final by securing a first series win away against England for 21 years after an eight-wicket win at Edgbaston.

They head to The Ageas Bowl to face India next week off the back of an eight-match unbeaten run that includes seven victories.

After taking the one remaining England second-innings wicket, the Kiwis knocked off the 38 required to victory inside the opening hour on day four.

The defeat sees Joe Root lose his first home series as captain, which he has held since 2017.

Furthermore, it leaves his young team at a crossroads seven-and-a-half weeks out from the five-Test India series and the trip to Australia for the Ashes.

Questions will be asked not only about individual performances, top seven batters have now recorded 18 ducks in 2021 alone, but selection. England omitted a spinner from their XI for the second consecutive Test, making just one change from the pitiful draw at Lord's as Olly Stone replaced Ollie Robinson.

The furore over the uncovering of Robinson's historic tweets had been given new life by the intervention made by the UK government, and the release of other offence messages by other members of the men's team. Investigations are ongoing.

The Black Caps chose to rest Kane Williamson and BJ Watling as a precaution, while Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee and Mitchell Santner all sat out.

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Trent Boult wrapped up the England second-innings via the first ball of day four

That meant a return for Trent Boult while Tom Latham was picked to lead the team.

Though he lost the toss and saw his side sent into the field, it is arguable that was the last time his New Zealand team was on the back foot.

Though Rory Burns and Dan Lawrence both struck 81 the middle-order was again taken apart by some average decision-making.

And it hadn't been for Mark Wood's onslaught on the second morning, he struck 41 thanks to a spate of lusty blows, England would have dipped well below the 303 they eventually managed.

Boult was the tormentor in chief with 4 for 85.

In stark contrast, the Kiwis were watchful and determined in their approach. Devon Conway once again impressed, backing up his double hundred on debut at the home of cricket with a fine 80.

Will Young (82) and Ross Taylor (80) also failed to reach three figures and though England did launch a brief counterattack led by Stuart Broad (4 for 48) the pace generated by Olly Stone and Mark Wood made all the difference.

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Will Young struck a calm first-innings 82

The lead of 85 looked handy, if not decisive but it was made to look handsome by a disastrous England collapse.

Burns departed via the second ball and when Lawrence edged Neil Wagner behind for a duck the home side were 58 for 5 and facing a challenge to make the tourists bat again.

Wood and Stone once again proved effective and took the game into day four, but at nine wickets down it was a matter and when and not if a first series win since 1999 would be complete.

Boult got the ball rolling with a wicket from the first delivery of a sun-decked morning before stand-in skipper Latham struck an unbeaten 23 and hit the winning runs via a four down through third man to secure the handsome win.

While New Zealand now go to Southampton to face India in a buoyant mood with several selection issues hanging over them, England face a major headache ahead of nearly eight weeks of domestic and international white-ball cricket.

The ironic cheers which greeted the news that a sparse crowd at Edgbaston would be entitled to a full refund said plenty about this England performance. A ticket for this performance was barely worth the paper it was written on.

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