ENG vs NZ 3rd Test Results

2:43 PM IST The captain of England - BEN STOKES gets a huge round of applause from his teammates and the crowd as he walks to have a chat for one last time. Ben Stokes keeps it measured in his farewell remarks, acknowledging it has been a good couple of days in many ways, even if the result was not the one he wanted. He calls it an incredibly hard-fought game by both sides and notes that the tough conditions played their part in the way the pitch behaved across the five days. For him, that is one of the things that makes Test cricket what it is. He is generous in his praise for New Zealand, and for Ravindra and Mitchell in particular, crediting the way they operate and the character they showed. On the chase, Stokes is honest, saying it was always going to be a difficult target to get on that surface. The only thing he would change, he adds with typical candour, is being on the winning side of it. But, he says, you cannot have everything your way. On his decision to retire, Stokes is reflective but firm. He says he did not take it lightly and spoke to people he trusted before arriving at his conclusion. He details that he tried to picture himself going beyond this week and could not. Admits that there is sadness, but also a deep sense of contentment in everything he has been able to contribute, and in the happiness he has brought to fans around the world. When asked about why he announced his retirement mid-match, Stokes reveals he told his closest teammates the night before and the rest of the squad on the morning of the final day. Looking back at the last two and a half weeks, he calls them interesting, the best word he can find for a period that had its share of controversy. Hit and miss, he says, much like his career at times, but something he has thoroughly enjoyed every step of the way. On being asked about his best memories as an England cricketer, he details how it is not the personal milestones he reaches first, but the moments shared with others, having played alongside some of the finest cricketers England has ever produced. He adds that while he knows he has done some decent things on the field himself, it is those shared experiences that he will carry with him the longest. He mentions how fortunate he feels to have watched Root operate up close for so long, a player still going at the highest level. He adds the names of Broad, Anderson, and Cook, giants of the game who defined an era, saying he counts himself lucky not just for what he contributed, but for everything he got to witness standing alongside them. In the end, he concludes by saying that it has been some ride, and one he will always look back on with the fondest of memories.

2:39 PM IST PLAYER OF THE SERIES FOR NEW ZEALAND - NATHAN SMITH receives the award for being the leading wicket-taker of the series. He picked up 16 wickets in three Tests. He says he is really pleased with how his series has gone, and takes pride in his ability to adapt to whatever the team needs, whether that is with the new ball or the old. He acknowledges the injury setbacks New Zealand suffered but feels it only highlighted the depth within the squad, with players coming off the bench and doing a fine job when called upon. On bowling in England, Smith says it presents a different challenge altogether. Notes that bringing the stumps into play becomes far more important here, and the key word throughout has been ruthlessness with line and length. He singles out Tom Blundell's decision to stand up to the stumps at The Oval as a moment that changed the series, calling it a huge tactical shift. On whether that was planned well in advance, Smith is candid, saying it was more of a conversation that developed during travel, a feeling that it could work, backed up by the skill to execute it.

2:39 PM IST PLAYER OF THE SERIES FOR ENGLAND - JOFRA ARCHER wins the medal for displaying outstanding skills with the ball. He finished as England's highest-wicket taker throughout the series, picking up 11 wickets to his name. He says it has been a really good series and one he has put a lot of work into. The rewards are not just his, he adds, every member of the side put a shift in and this belongs to all of them. On the transition from IPL cricket back to Tests, Archer points to mindset above everything else. Aches and pains are part of the game, but knowing that the batter at the other end is trying just as hard keeps him going. There is also a responsibility to his fellow fast bowlers. If he goes down, the workload shifts onto the other three, and that thought alone is enough to keep him pushing through discomfort. He also speaks about the mental demands of fielding for long stretches after bowling spells, saying staying locked in and not drifting is as hard as anything the game throws at you physically. On whether the workload ever gave him doubts, his answer is simple. Not for him. On Ben Stokes, Archer is warm and candid and gets a bit emotional as well. He gathers himself and says he values him not just as a captain but as a friend, someone he can always turn to for advice and reassurance. The thought of a dressing room without Stokes is something Archer admits he does not want to think about. Every game, Stokes has been there, Root has been there, and adjusting to that absence, he says, is going to take some time.

2:36 PM IST PLAYER OF THE MATCH - DARYL MITCHELL wins the award for his marvellously constructed 100* (241) in the third innings. He calls it a special Test match for the group. They came over with the goal of winning the series, he says, and they did it in style. On his century, Mitchell admits he had some unfinished business from the previous series and is simply proud of every member of the group who stepped up over the last few days. He adds that it is nice to get the job done. About the turnaround from going 1-0 down, Mitchell says the key was how calm the group remained. Says they went back to basics at The Oval in the second Test and started fresh again at Trent Bridge. Details that different surfaces demanded different skills and different mindsets, and he feels the group adapted well to each challenge. When asked about his bruised fingers and ribs after taking several blows on the body while batting, Mitchell mentions that there a couple of bruises here and there, but adds with a smile that it was worth it. On the batting partnerships, Mitchell shares that the dressing room conversation was always about building them, and Rachin Ravindra, in particular, did a fabulous job. Adds that everyone who came in chipped away and contributed, and those partnerships proved crucial in the end. On the fielding, Mitchell acknowledges it is an area the team has focused on heavily. Notes that it does not always come off, but the two run-outs on the final day were outstanding and showed how engaged and committed every player in the group has been.

2:35 PM IST Depleted, but not talentless - With Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson, the heroes of the second Test, both ruled out due to injuries, along with Tickner who was subbed out due to a concussion mid-Test, New Zealand lost some of their most experienced pacers and with them, a significant amount of know-how in English conditions. The cutting edge looked blunted on paper. But Nathan Smith, finishing as the leading wicket-taker of the series, and Will O'Rourke, not far behind on 10, sincerely filled that void with moments of genuine brilliance. Between them and Foulkes, it was a collective bowling effort that kept New Zealand firmly in command throughout this Test. The depth of New Zealand's seam bowling has been nothing short of remarkable throughout this series. Remember, these are the same group who knocked India over three-nil in their own backyard less than two years ago. And now they have gone and given England their first series defeat on home soil in a series of three or more matches since 2012. Not bad at all from the Black Caps.

2:33 PM IST The victorious captain of New Zealand - TOM LATHAM walks up to Michael Atherton with a broad smile. He calls it a really special moment, one the squad has been building towards since the first ball of the series. He says that it has been a collective effort throughout, with the group sticking to a style of cricket that suits them. Old school, disciplined, and something he is genuinely proud of. On the comeback from 1-0 down, Latham feels New Zealand did plenty of good things at Lord's even in defeat, pointing to a tricky surface and a few moments that could have gone either way. From there, they came to The Oval, played their brand of cricket, and individuals stood up when the team needed them. Looking back, he says, they won the key moments, and that made the difference. On the defining moments of this Test, Latham points to the opening partnership on Day 1 as a strong foundation, even if he felt they could have pushed on further from that position. Adds that the burst of four to five quick wickets on Day 3 was equally crucial, shifting the momentum firmly in New Zealand's favour. He singles out the third innings partnership between Mitchell and Ravindra as the moment that settled it. Says they were under enormous pressure when that pair came together and the way they batted was simply outstanding. Mitchell, in particular, gets special mention. Latham calls him the man New Zealand want in the middle when situations get difficult, and he thrived on the battle. On the chaotic final session on the fourth day, with the crowd reacting to news of Stokes' retirement and England sending him out to open the innings, Latham mentions it is exactly the kind of situation this group prides itself on handling. Latham then turns to Stokes directly with a message on behalf of the entire New Zealand side. He congratulates him on an extraordinary career, calling him a once-in-a-generation player. Latham acknowledges that the battles between the two sides over the years have been fierce, but on behalf of everyone in the New Zealand camp, he wants Stokes to know he has had a fantastic career and to enjoy every moment of his retirement.