After securing a victory within three days in a fierce gale, the series triumph over New Zealand was also achieved with a Test match remaining, leaving Ben Stokes himself in awe. "Quite phenomenal," was the England captain's reaction to the commanding 323-run margin, especially after losing four wickets on the first morning of the match. Stokes proceeded to heap praise on his players, singling out Harry Brook for his game-changing 123 in the first innings and Gus Atkinson for his remarkable hat-trick in his debut Test year. However, Stokes was also quick to commend himself and head coach Brendon McCullum for their bold decision to place young Jacob Bethell at No 3 and watch him thrive.
Bethell narrowly missed out on a maiden Test century during England's dominant second innings, but the 21-year-old has so far shown remarkable composure. In a rare acknowledgment of external opinions, Stokes explained why, in his view, placing a young player without a professional century in the crucial No 3 position was not a gamble. Stokes elaborated: "I understand the concerns about Beth at No 3 given his limited first-class experience at the top of the order: should we have batted him lower to ease him into the pressures of Test cricket? But Brendon and I don't think that way. We have a young talent with immense potential, so why not let him face the toughest challenges of Test cricket head-on?"
If things hadn't worked out for Bethell, it wouldn't have altered our perception of him as a player. I was gutted for him not to reach three figures. But I told him, 'It's just four runs,' to which he replied, 'Yeah, but it would have been flair if I had smashed it through the covers.' That's the kind of attitude that impresses me. I believe he has proven a lot to many people and justified why we hold him in such high regard."
Stokes also highlighted the bravery of Brook and Ollie Pope, who both played crucial roles in countering New Zealand's strong start. Brook's calculated approach, dancing down the pitch to unsettle the quicks, was particularly noted. "New Zealand boasts some highly skilled bowlers," Stokes said. "For Brook to play as he did on day one was exceptional. There are only a few players in the world capable of such a performance. I'm glad he's on our side, and I'm proud of how we've backed our abilities."
Another standout performance was Joe Root's 106, which, while smooth, marked his 36th Test century. Root's audacious reserve scoop off Will O'Rourke, despite being gloved for four, left Stokes chuckling. Stokes explained: "He had a man down at fine leg all morning, then New Zealand brought him up, and he decided to scoop a 6ft 9in bowler firing rockets. It was audacious. Joe is desperate to succeed for this team, knowing how crucial he is. When he performs well, we generally do too. When he doesn't score, he feels he's let everyone down because he's that good."
Tom Latham, leading a New Zealand side that has now lost six and won one against the 'Bazball' England team, acknowledged the pressure exerted by England. "It's the pressure they can put you under, especially with the bat. Harry Brook's performance was outstanding," Latham said. When asked if the previous 3-0 loss to India had drained his team more than they realized, Latham replied: "I don't think so. We entered this series with high hopes. We know we haven't been at our best, but credit to England, they've played fantastically. We will continue to show our Kiwi spirit and keep fighting. It hurts, but we will reflect and move forward."
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