Chesire cat: Jonny Bairstow
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root made light work of New Zealand on day five to ensure a 3-0 series victory.
Bairstow hit the second-fastest test cricket half-century for England, off 30 balls, to hit the 113-run target and secure a seven-wicket win.
The partnership with Root was all England needed and they completed their first clean sweep of a home series in over a decade.
Here’s how Will Macpherson rated those on show across the third Test...
Alex Lees - 3
4 & 9
First quiet Test since his debut in Antigua. Got a brute of a ball in the first innings, but was dozy for his run out in the second.
Zak Crawley - 3
6 & 25
Another tough test for an opener who looks all a sea. Did not learn from Lees and Pope’s dismissals on day two, and was fidgety on day four. Had a part to play in Lees’ run out, then had a dreadful dismissal of his own.
Ollie Pope - 7
5 & 82
Will reflect that he was a little loose in the face of some wonderful bowling from Boult in the first innings, but his innings in the second was the blueprint for him at No3. Fizzed along with joyous intent before falling early on day five.
Joe Root - 8
5 & 86*; 0-30 & 1-29
Got a beauty in first innings, but put in a delightful performance in the second, including a genuine moment of genius when he reverse-ramped Wagner into the rugby stand.
Jonny Bairstow - 10
162 & 71*
Scarcely believable that he has strung these two performances together. This century was perhaps the best of his 10 in Test cricket, and he followed it up with a display of outrageous brutality at the end of the game. Dropped one tough chance, but took another.
Ben Stokes - 6
18 & 0-30
Another excellent Test as skipper, and he takes some credit for Leach’s performance. His innings was arguably over-aggressive, but England got out of jail anyway. Used his own bowling sparingly, which was probably a good thing given he was wild.
Ben Foakes - 4
0
Was having an excellent series, but was a little bit off here, before a stiff back and some Covid ended his match in unfortunate circumstances. Dropped a couple of tough chances and made thew first duck of his career. That he had Covid might explain the dip in performance
Jamie Overton - 7
1-85 & 1-61; 97
An exciting addition of England’s attack. Took some thrilling wickets, and added some menace when he sconed Conway, too. His batting was an exceptional display of ball striking.
Stuart Broad - 7
3-62 & 0-63; 44
Set the tone with early wicket of Latham, but was not at his best with the ball for periods in this game. That said, he was unlucky to see catches go down off his bowling. Fantastic cameo on day three.
Matt Potts - 9
1-34 & 3-66
Arguably bowled even better here than he did when taking seven wickets on debut at Lord’s. Was fantastic, stepping up to the challenge of taking the new ball. Extraordinary economy of 1.3 across 20 first innings overs.
Jack Leach - 9
5-100 & 5-66
Leach’s best figures, sure, but also his best performance for England. Leach was under some external pressure, but he struck with his first ball and barely looked back. Some luck involved, but put more on the ball too. Picked up the final three wickets in both innings, which is part of a spinner’s job.
