England face tough questions after New Zealand seal series victory with eight-wicket win

• Full scoreboard from second Test

• With Test series against India and Australia coming up Chris Silverwood needs to make some hard selection calls after Kiwis win at Edgbaston by eight wickets

• Between now and India contest England players are pencilled in to play in The Hundred

When Olly Stone edged behind the first ball of the day there were a few laughs from the stands but the black humour will turn to outright ridicule in Australia if England do not make some tough decisions now.

Joe Root’s first home series defeat after four years as captain is the cold splash of water on the face England needed. Gone is the optimism of early February when Root was the maharajah of all he surveyed after his 218 in Chennai led England to one of their greatest overseas wins.

Now the plans for Australia are in shreds. England have lost four out of five Test matches, were outplayed by New Zealand and unless there is rapid improvement will lose to India and go to Australia on the back of three consecutive series defeats.

Rest and rotation has been exposed and along with it the failings that put one-day cricket before the Test game.

Players need carefully managed workloads in an era of Covid bubbles with England playing more international cricket than anyone else, but once again Eoin Morgan will have his first choice team for the one-day series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan while the only way Joe Root could watch Jos Buttler during this match was on television playing Twenty20 cricket for Lancashire.

Chris Woakes has not played for England since September, Jonny Bairstow’s Test career may be over as a specialist batsman but he would have been a better stand-in than James Bracey when Ben Foakes was injured. Bairstow instead was told to rest after the IPL, and Bracey was picked before he was ready.

Root backed young batsmen under pressure saying it was not about techniques but about “mindset” and “being smarter”. But these players have grown up in county cricket where the championship is played on poor early or late season pitches so they develop quirks to survive and play shots fearing there is a ball with their name on it not far away.

There are just two championship rounds before the India series in August. Counties desperate for cash give over the best of summer to the Blast and the ECB is adding the Hundred. England’s leading Test players are pencilled in to play the opening weekend of the new tournament on July 24. Their warm up for facing Japsrit Bumrah and Ravi Ashwin will be playing 100-ball whackathons.

Root was right when he said playing white ball cricket can help. Feeling bat on ball in less pressurised surroundings can be a good thing, but not for players like Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope who tried to sprint in this series before they had even put their socks on. England scored 303 in their first innings, a total reminiscent of so many failed Ashes trips.

Blaming the system only goes so far. In his first series as head selector as well as head coach, Chris Silverwood made mistakes. The IPL players were indulged and the Test team picked with eyes on other challenges further down the line.

The absence of Ben Stokes was blamed for not picking a spinner and it did make a difference but on good batting pitches where chances for wickets have to be earned, a frontline spinner is vital. England had no variety, Root was bowling early in both Tests and Jack Leach once again thinks he is not rated.

England’s mindset was exposed too. New Zealand had the better of the first Test but gave England a chance with a sporting declaration. It would have been a tough chase, especially with a vulnerable batting line up, but caution was England’s default.

The one aspect England got right was producing flat pitches. Silverwood knows they have to learn to create opportunities when the ball is not swinging and flat wickets also give his batsmen the best chance. Now he faces a test of nerve. Will the same pitches be produced for the India series or do they go back to greener seamers for Broad and Anderson? That would be a backward step. Picking them both only blocks opportunities and stunts the team’s development. Olly Stone, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood and Jofra Archer need to be given more responsibility. Anderson and Broad still have wickets in them, just as solo artists and not a duet.

The batting will be bolstered by Buttler and Stokes but there are few alternatives to those who played in this series. Dawid Malan coped well with fast bowling in Australia and has lots of experience. Haseeb Hameed could dislodge Dom Sibley and James Vince is not far away. It is not a convincing gallery of reserves.

Crawley and Pope are facing the first rough patches of what have so far been gilded careers and are a problem that requires patience. Sibley will be fodder for the Australians unless he changes, while Dan Lawrence looks a batsman who will only be potent in a middle order with a stronger core. England need Henry Nicholls type solidity at the moment, not a shot-making dasher.

It was hard not to feel for Root and the players this week; they were hugely distracted by the Robinson affair. Instead of taking the heat out of the situation, the ECB left the players to face all the questions.

This was a board-level crisis - they decided to suspend Robinson and bring down the weight of the prime minister and culture secretary on English cricket. Tom Harrison, the chief executive, gave sound leadership during the Covid crisis but he should have taken a lead on Monday, grabbed hold of the issue and taken the pressure off the players. Instead he was anonymous and the board hid behind statements that said very little. It threatens to drive a wedge between players and administrators. In many ways it has been a week to forget but some aspects will linger long in the memory.

Joe Root calls on England batsmen to to show more adaptability after thrashing by New Zealand

By Tim Wigmore

Test skipper Joe Root admitted that England had been comprehensively outplayed and not batted smartly enough as they were thrashed by eight wickets by New Zealand, sealing England’s first series defeat against any opponent at home since 2014.

“We have had a poor week, a poor series, and have got to front up to that,” Root said, after England’s first home defeat to New Zealand since 1999.

“It’s been a frustrating and disappointing performance this week. I don’t think we’ve given a fair account of ourselves. We’ve been outplayed in all three departments, particularly the batting.”

Root called on the under-fire batting line-up to show more adaptability. Despite benign batting conditions, England collapsed to 122 all out in their second innings.

“We can be a little bit smarter on occasions,” Root said. “Every single one of those guys has proven they can score big Test runs. We’ve all underperformed this week, I think it would be the wrong time to start panicking and trying to rip up all the hard work we’ve done for such a long period of time.

“We have to keep looking to get better, keep looking to learn. If we keep making the same mistakes then we need to be really brutally honest and say do I need to change something, whether it’s mental or technical and become a better player from that point forwards.

“Regardless of the conditions we have to manage certain passages of play better. Throughout the two games we have lost clusters of wickets together and that’s where we have stumbled and where we have given New Zealand opportunities to get ahead in the game. Those first 20 balls – it’s about recognising the danger, recognising the threat and being a bit smarter about where we are going to score. That’s one of the big learns we have to take from this series.”

Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence are all under pressure for their places, with Lawrence’s average of 30 the highest of the quartet in Test matches this year. Dawid Malan, who hit 199 in his first County Championship game of the summer earlier this month, is one option should England want to add more experience to their top five. Root called on the players to improve their returns in county cricket.

“They are the challenges for the group, whether they are in the current squad or just outside it. Go away, make big scores, regardless of the format, and put your hand up for selection, just like everyone else.”

Root insisted that England are making progress in their Test side, despite the tame defeat.

“We have all underperformed this week. It would be the wrong time to start panicking and rip up all the hard work we have done for such a long period of time.

“Sometimes you really learn about a group of players, going through a difficult period like this. This is where we have to front up to it and come out the other side of it.”

Root said that he was especially frustrated that England performed so poorly in front of the largest crowd that England have played in front of at home since 2019. “We’re very disappointed. We’ve really looked forward to this atmosphere and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed the support and that atmosphere that’s provided throughout the three days. We’re bitterly disappointed for those guys.

“We’ve got to make sure when we have that support out there again hopefully later on in the summer that we repay them with some good performances.”

Root admitted that it was frustrating not to have had his full Test squad available for any Tests so far this year, with Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Chris Stokes all rested against New Zealand after returning from the Indian Premier League. But Root expects to have a full-strength side available for the five Tests against India, which begin on August 4.

“We find ourselves in these Covid times and things aren’t perfect. They are not ideal. We have got to find the best way of managing what is right in front of us.

“The whole thing is frustrating from time to time. Every Test match you want all of your best players to be available. At the minute that’s not quite a possibility.

“We’ve five more Tests to come this summer and I’d like to think for those Tests we’d have our first XI if all fit. And that’s really exciting prospect as a team and something to look forward to.”

As it happened on Sunday morning, below

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12:01 PM

Right, over to the football then

We'll call that a day on the cricket. Nick Hoult's report will be in very shortly and appear in the space above.

May I strongly suggest that you head over here, where you'll find Will Magee and Alan Tyers live blogging England v Croatia at the European Championship.

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11:44 AM

England player ratings

Nick Hoult's verdict on the players used by England this series is here. Warning: one player gets 1/10.

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11:28 AM

New Zealand have a budget smaller than Surrey

Click on the link in this tweet from Tim Wigmore for a comprehensive explanation of how New Zealand have learned to compete at this level.

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11:25 AM

It's a giant killing

It just doesn't feel like it.

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11:22 AM

Joe Root speaks

"We've got to look at what we can take from this series. You can have bad sessions with the ball, but not with the bat. If we do lose quick wickets, how are we going to get to a break. We've got to manage passages of play better. We've got to use the experience in the dressing room and of the coaches so that if we're in that situation again, we don't make the same mistakes.

"You can look for excuses but NZ have outplayed us. We know we're a better side than this.

"I don't look back at Lord's with regret. It felt like scoring at seven or eight an over would have been a big challenge. It was always going to be too much.

"White-ball cricket will give people a chance to see the game in a different context and when we're back to Test cricket we'll be ready of those challenges.

"The support has been amazing. We're so blessed to have such brilliant fans. We feel like we've got 12 men on the field. "

How England view fortress Edgbaston vs how Edgbaston actually is. #EngvNZ pic.twitter.com/fhSY82ZAMz

— New Zealandennis (@DennisCricket_) June 13, 2021

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11:18 AM

Devon Conway is New Zealand's player of the series

He made more than 300 runs in his first two Tests.

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11:14 AM

Rory Burns is England's player of the series

"Disappointed from a team perspective but it's been nice to bat with some rhythm. They bowled well over the series, constantly testing my defence. I was trying to stay as level as I could through my innings."

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11:13 AM

Matt Henry is player of the match....

...and yet not even a shoo-in for the World Test Championship final. Remarkable, really. He took six wickets in the Test.

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11:05 AM

Where to now?

Latham, the stand-in captain, finishes on 23 not out. The crowd cheer at the prospect of their full refund. New Zealand's attention can now turn to the World Test Championship final. England must somehow regroup for a Test series against India later this summer.

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10:59 AM

New Zealand win by eight wickets.

Wood strays onto Latham's pads and gets flicked through square leg for four. One more run needed for New Zealand to wrap this up. Latham dabs a run behind point and that's that.

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10:57 AM

OVER 10: New Zealand 33-2 (Latham 15* Taylor 0*)

Mark Wood will get at least one over here. Sod's law dictates that he'll probably break down.

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10:54 AM

WICKET! Young b Stone 8

Glorious back-foot punch through point for four from Young off Stone. Two balls later he chops on. Stone has another Test wicket. HUGE ironic cheers from the Edgbaston crowd.

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10:51 AM

OVER 9: New Zealand 28-1 (Latham 14* Young 4*)

Just the single from Anderson's fifth over. Olly Stone is going to replace Stuart Broad for the next one. Ten more to win for the Kiwis.

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10:46 AM

OVER 8: New Zealand 27-1 (Latham 13* Young 4*)

"Football's coming home," sings the Hollies Stand. Meanwhile, Test cricket appears to be slipping out the back door.

Broad get called wide for a high bouncer. Didn't take it well. He may yet have a charge to answer from the match referee after this game, for his reaction to the catch that wasn't in New Zealand's first innings.

Mark Wood very nearly runs out Tom Latham with an underarm flick from mid-on but misses by inches.

New Zealand need another 11 runs to win.

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10:41 AM

OVER 7: New Zealand 21-1 (Latham 10* Young 3*)

Latham drops his bat on a full ball from Anderson and picks up four runs to long-on. A typically no-fuss, no-frills shot. Anderson is finding loads of lift here when he goes back of a length. Reminder: New Zealand need just 38 to win.

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10:37 AM

OVER 6: New Zealand 17-1 (Latham 6* Young 3*)

Tom Latham reaches 4,000 runs in Test cricket with a drop into the off side for one. He's the ninth Kiwi to reach that milestone. The compact left-hander has an average of 41.67, in 58 matches. That's the kind of record that pretty much every member of England's top order would kill for. The question is how many of them will even get close to a half century of Test caps.

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10:32 AM

OVER 5: New Zealand 16-1 (Latham 5* Young 3*)

Latham takes a single into the leg side. James Anderson have the look of a man who's arrived at work and realised that he's left his lunch in the fridge.

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10:29 AM

OVER 4: New Zealand 15-1 (Latham 4* Young 3*)

Maiden over from Broad, who's in the mid 80s here. Can afford to run in nice and hard.

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10:24 AM

OVER 3: New Zealand 15-1 (Latham 4* Young 3*)

Four byes from Anderson as a ball leaps past Latham's pocket and far out the reach of James Bracey. There were appeals for a catch. Looks like the ball brushed the pocket on the way through. Should have been leg byes.

Anderson no-balls and, from the extra ball in the over, Young clubs a drive for three through cover.

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10:20 AM

OVER 2: New Zealand 6-1 (Latham 3* Young 0*)

Here's the refund policy. Everyone in the ground praying this game is done in 15 overs.

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10:17 AM

WICKET! Conway c Bracey b Broad 3

Stuart Broad to share the new ball. Edgbaston is about ten per cent full, with all supporters now checking the backs of their tickets for the small print about how much of a refund they'll be entitled to. Will try and find out myself.

Conway cushions a ball down to third man for three....then nicks a very similar delivery behind. He's out!

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10:12 AM

OVER 1: New Zealand 0/0 (Latham 0* Conway 0*)

To the strains of Jerusalem, James Anderson bounds in to help administer the series's last rites. Latham leaves everything alone outside off stump.

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10:09 AM

James Anderson to open the bowling

Don't think he'll be getting a second spell.

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10:02 AM

New Zealand need 38 to win

Utterly extraordinary. Clock hadn't even officially hit 11am when that wicket was taken. Boult finishes with two for 34. Matt Henry three for 36, Neil Wagner three for 18 and Ajaz Patel two for 25.

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10:00 AM

WICKET! Olly Stone caught Blundell bowled Boult

First ball! A lifter outside off stump from Boult and Stone feathers a catch behind!

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09:58 AM

Players on the field

Day four starts shortly and I'm afraid will finish not long after. England have one wicket left to build on their lead of 37. Olly Stone and James Anderson at the crease. Trent Boult to open the bowling.

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09:55 AM

Series defeat shambles

None of Ollie Pope, Dan Lawrence, Zak Crawley or James Bracey had made their FC debuts the last time that England lost a Test series at home. #ENGvNZ

— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) June 13, 2021

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09:40 AM

Bad selection, bad bowling, bad batting, bad fielding

Nick Hoult's match report from yesterday pulls few punches. According to our chief cricket correspondent, the suits who picked the team must accept some responsibility.

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09:30 AM

Vaughan: Test cricket is about rhythm. England can't dance

Writing after the close of play yesterday, Michael Vaughan explained the importance of reading situations, something the admittedly inexperienced England batting line-up seemed unable to do.

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09:26 AM

Australia: looking forward to Sibley on toast

Fair to say that a home series defeat to New Zealand is not ideal preparation for an Ashes winter. Here's Scyld Berry on whether Dom Sibley should even travel Down Under in five months' time.

Read the rest of Scyld's analysis here.

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09:16 AM

Silverwood: 'We should learn from New Zealand'

Morning all. You're probably feeling a bit short-changed by England already, right? Glorious cricket weather like this does not deserve bleak batting like yesterday's.

To recap, England lost nine wickets in a dramatic collapse to put New Zealand on the verge of victory. New Zealand, led by seamer Matt Henry, reduced England to 122-9 at stumps with a slender lead of 37 runs.

Henry dismissed openers Rory Burns (0) and Dom Sibley (8) early in his opening spell, with both batsmen edging the new ball to the slips.

Zak Crawley, who came in at number three, failed with the bat yet again when he was dismissed for 17, trapped leg before by Henry.

Neil Wagner then joined the party with his swing bowling, first dismissing Ollie Pope, trapped leg before for 23, while Dan Lawrence was caught behind for a duck to leave England reeling at 58-5.

Spinner Ajaz Patel then got in on the act as James Bracey (8) was bowled when he missed a pre-meditated sweep shot before skipper Joe Root (11) nicked a delivery to Blundell behind the stumps.

Mark Wood (29) provided some resistance, with a six over deep midwicket ensuring New Zealand had to bat again, but he was dismissed when he tried to pull a short ball from Wagner to give Blundell his third catch of the innings.

Olly Stone (15) and James Anderson (0) were at the crease at stumps and have a tough task of saving the match and the series when they resume the innings in about 45 minutes.

Chris Silverwood, the England coach, said he was disappointed with his team's application while batting, saying his players could learn from how the visitors put a price on their wickets.

"New Zealand have given us a lesson in how to be the number one side in the world," he told Sky Sports.

"Our young batsman can learn off their batsman. We knew it was going to be difficult coming into this series with a young batting line-up."