PLAYER RATINGS: BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner steal the show as Joe Root has a Test to forget

The Cricketer runs the rule over the performances of all 22 players during the first Test between New Zealand and England at Bay Oval...

Scorecard | Talking Points

NEW ZEALAND

Jeet Raval (19): Unconvincing in his one trip to the wicket. 4

Tom Latham (8): Didn't get a score early in the first innings. Caught well in the slips and at gully. 3

Kane Williamson (51; DNB & 0-6): Given his lack of match action in recent weeks, the skipper looked in complete control at the crease until he was surprised by a leaper from Curran. 6.5

Ross Taylor (25): Given what happened later in the innings, and the lack of life in the pitch in general, he will have been disappointed not to cash in. 4.5

Henry Nicholls (41): Injected some resolve to the middle of the innings when, briefly, England threatened to take control. 6

BJ Watling (205): Masterful, stoic, durable, combative. Watling outlined just why he is in a two-horse race with Quinton de Kock to be recognised as the best wicketkeeper-batsman in Test cricket. Made the most of a life on 31. 9.5

Colin de Grandhomme (65; 2-41 & 1-15): Made major contributions with both bat and ball. An incredibly valuable component of this team. 9

Mitchell Santner (126; 0-24 & 3-53): Brilliant with the bat, digging in to give New Zealand an insurmountable position in the match and then letting loose to rub England’s faces in the dirt. Ended a run of 101 Kiwi wickets being taken by seamers with three quick dismissals on the fourth evening to set up victory. 9.5

Tim Southee (9; 4-88 & 1-60): Bundled England out first time around, with a little help from the tourists. 7

Neil Wagner (11*; 3-90 & 5-44): Problems with the footholes made him turn to going around the wicket in the second innings, and he immediately dismantled the England middle order. Strong, powerful and always capable of making something happen. 8.5

Trent Boult (1*; 1-97 & 0-6): A low-key outing. Injured during the latter stages of the game and only bowled six overs in the second innings. 5

^{Jofra Archer cuts a frustrated figure}

ENGLAND

Rory Burns (52 & 32): Dug in well and looked in reasonable nick in the first innings. Gave his wicket away in outrageous circumstances and highly uncharacteristic fashion on the fourth evening. 6

Dom Sibley (22 & 13): Will need to strengthen up outside off stump as his Test career goes on but there were glimpses of encouragement in the first innings here. One terrific catch at gully. An anxious second innings saw him struggle against spin and off the back foot. 3.5

Joe Denly (74 & 35): While Ben Stokes' first-innings 91 was probably the knock of the match from an England perspective, Denly was his country's stand-out batsman. Showed tremendous staying power once more, and refused to bow to the pressure on day five. Unfortunate dismissal, getting a sliver of a glove on a leaping Wagner delivery. Has nailed down his place for the foreseeable future. 8.5

Joe Root (2 & 11; 1-67 & DNB): Two poor dimissals showed up Root's lack of form with the bat, while the skipper's use of his bowlers provided more questions than answers. 2

Ben Stokes (91 & 28; 2-74 & DNB): Played a major hand in this game, but will no doubt be frustrated with both of his dismissals. The first, when he looked totally dominant, precipitated England's collapse. The second, dragging on after batting superbly for 100 minutes in the rearguard, left him kicking the turf. Added wickets with the ball, but dropped Watling when he was on 31. 8

Ollie Pope (28 & 6): So much better than his two dismissals in this match - both chasing wide balls which he could happily have left alone. 3

Jos Buttler (43 & 0): Dealt a tough hand in the first innings, when he had to make as much hay as possible with the tail. A very peculiar leave second time around. 5

Sam Curran (0 & 29*; 3-119): Bowled well early in New Zealand's innings, and displayed some counterpunching intent when all was almost lost in England's second shot. 6

Jofra Archer (4 & 30; 1-107): Archer's lowest-key international performance to date. Struggled to get lift or real pace out of the playing surface. 4

Jack Leach (18* & 0; 2-153): Did not get a great deal of assistance with the ball - in stark constrast to Santner on day four. Rarely lost his length. Showed typical staying power in the first innings, failed to review his dismissal in the second. 4.5

Stuart Broad (1 & 0; 0-64): Not a lot of joy for England's experienced bowler. 4

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