Ben Stokes:
It has gone really well. A 3-0 win against the best team in the world, it’s absolutely phenomenal. It’s about the change of the mindset of the lads towards Test cricket. To say that we have done it so quickly is unbelievable. Huge credit to Brendon and the backroom staff. Trent Bridge was incredible but being 55 for 6 and then doing what we did and the manner in which we did was the most pleasing thing. It has really set the level for people to want to come in and perform for the Test side. Pottsy has taken it like fish to water. Broady, even at 36, bowling these many overs, and fantastic to see Leachy. When we got together, we picked the players who offer the best in every position. Pope’s been fantastic, carrying his form from Surrey and showing the world what Pope is about. India is a different opposition but we will come out with the same mindset.
Kane Williamson:
It’s been an incredible series. We had opportunities in all three Tests but credit to the England side. We were in a fairly good position in this Test. For us, it’s a matter of regrouping. There is a new theme to their approach and they won those fine margins that went a long way in perhaps deciding the outcome of the match. We sort of opted for the balance and were curious after looking at the surface how it will play. It was seaming today as well. But it was frustrating, we hoped to create more opportunities but it wasn’t to be. It would have been nice for the top four to contribute more. I think everyone wants to give more and more to the team. Certainly love this group and love being a leader in this environment. It’s great to be out here, playing along with these guys and against England.
Daryl Mitchell is the Player of the Series from the New Zealand side:
“We want to come over here and win as a series but I am very proud of the effort boys put out there,” he says. “For me, it’s really proud to be part of this group. To get any chance to play a Test for your country is special. [On from IPL to here] It’s the nature of international cricket to adapt to different formats. Lord’s is a historic place but every Test hundred is special. [On the partnership with Blundell] He’s a great man, we spend a lot of time together.”
Joe Root is the Player of the Series:
“It was like some of the 50-over stuff. He [Bairstow] has been hitting the ball really well. He has been a phenomenal player. It’s great to see him do that, to bat with confidence and freedom. One of the great things about this series was guys keep getting more and more confident about how they want to go about it. It’s important that we enjoy this series. It has been a rocky road for the Test series. If you cannot enjoy this series, then what do you play for? I think we should concentrate on what this team has done over the last few weeks. I am sure Ben has got the plans for the India Test and the next series as well.”
Jack Leach is the Player of the Match:
“It’s nice to come back after 2019, great memories from that day,” he says. “So yeah, here again. It did look dry and Stokesy came to me straight away and said it’s going to spin. The seamers made it easy for me. Pottsy deserved five wickets as well. And I think Jonny deserved this award as well. He was unbelievable. To take wickets early was important. So yeah, good fun.”
England vs New Zealand Highlights today Monday, 27-6-2022 – 3rd Test, New Zealand tour of England from Headingley, Leeds.
NZ, elected to bat first.
England team: 1 Alex Lees, 2 Zak Crawley, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Jonny Bairstow, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Ben Foakes (wk), 8 Matthew Potts, 9 Jamie Overton, 10 Jack Leach, 11 Stuart Broad
New Zealand team: 1 Tom Latham, 2 Will Young, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Devon Conway, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Henry Nicholls, 7 Tom Blundell (wk), 8 Michael Bracewell, Tim Southee, 10 Neil Wagner, 11 Trent Boult
Head to Head In ODI’s: 109
Eng Won: 50
NZ Won: 12
Match Timings: 10:00 GMT | 11:00 Local
Umpires – Marais Erasmus, Richard Kettleborough
TV Umpires – Aleem Dar
Match Referee – David Boon
Reserve Umpire – David Millns
Match number – Test no. 2467
