This summer was supposed to be a reset for England but already it is shaping up as a reckoning. As New Zealand savoured a famous 253‑run win at the Oval, Matt Henry needing just 48 minutes to go through Joe Root and a crepe‑paper tail, the team they defeated and the setup behind it appeared in a state of disarray.
Like New Zealand as a whole, Henry was excellent in his execution. He snared all five wickets on the final morning to roll out England for 209 and to finish with 11 for 109 in the Test. As well as the best match figures against England by a New Zealander, Henry sent memories back to their victory at the same venue in 1999 – a result that left the home supporters chanting: “We’ve got the worst team in the world.”
