England vs New Zealand second Test analysis: Five things we learnt

England wrapped up a series win over New Zealand after a massively dominant display from Ben Stokes’ men.

After posting a competitive first-innings total of 280, England bowled New Zealand out for a mere 125.

They followed it up with a dominant batting display, declaring at 427-6 and setting New Zealand an almost impossible target of 582.

Harry Brook and Joe Root shone with centuries, while Gus Atkinson claimed a remarkable hat-trick. Brydon Carse also starred with the ball, taking six wickets in the match to bring his series tally to an impressive 16.

Here, Sports News Blitz's James Melloy delves into five key takeaways from the second Test between England and New Zealand.

Jacob Bethell proves he's ready for the big stage

Jacob Bethell's selection to bat at number three in the England vs. New Zealand Test series raised a few eyebrows, especially given his lack of first-class centuries.

However, he quickly silenced critics with flashes of brilliance in his first three innings. His standout performance came in England’s second innings, where he scored an impressive 96, narrowly missing out on a maiden Test hundred.

While his dismissal was desperately unlucky, Bethell’s talent is undeniable, and it’s only a matter of time before he reaches triple figures, whether in red-ball or white-ball cricket.

Gus Atkinson and Byrdon Carse: the ideal successors to Jimmy Anderson

Replacing England’s all-time leading wicket-taker, Jimmy Anderson, with nearly 800 wickets to his name, was never going to be easy.

Yet Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse have adapted to Test cricket superbly, proving they’re up to the challenge.

Atkinson, in particular, has been sensational, showcasing his all-round ability by taking five wickets, scoring a century, and even claiming a hat-trick in New Zealand.

Both Atkinson and Carse were relentless, giving the New Zealand batters no respite and ensuring England remained in complete control.

With Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson retiring within a year of each other, the prospect of rebuilding England’s bowling attack might have seemed daunting.

However, with Atkinson, Carse, Matthew Potts, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Chris Woakes in the mix, England’s fast-bowling options look well-prepared for the challenges ahead, including next winter’s Ashes in Australia.

READ MORE: Australia vs India second Test analysis: Five things we learnt

Harry Brook has gone to a whole new level with his batting

Harry Brook’s talent has never been in doubt, but recently, he has taken his batting to an entirely new level.

His remarkable 317 in Pakistan was just the beginning of a sensational run.

In the first Test against New Zealand, Brook delivered again with a stunning 171, and he followed it up with his eighth Test century in New Zealand, smashing 100 off just 91 balls at an astonishing strike rate of nearly 110.

Brook’s innings were filled with audacious shots, particularly when England found themselves in tricky situations.

During that knock, he surpassed 1,000 Test runs in 2024, boasting an incredible average of 62.63 from just 11 matches.

He added a composed 55 in England’s second innings, cementing his status as one of cricket’s brightest stars.

Simply put, Brook is a phenomenal talent with the potential to be one of England’s all-time greats.

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Devon Conway's batting woes continue

Devon Conway, who famously scored a double century on his Test debut at Lord's, is enduring a torrid run of form.

Over his last 11 Tests, Conway has managed just 433 runs, including a mere 21 runs across his last four innings.

This stark contrast to his 2021 average of 63 - now down to 21 - highlights the struggles he’s facing, as his confidence appears to have taken a significant hit.

Like many batters searching desperately for runs, the breaks just don’t seem to be going his way.

However, given Conway's immense talent, one would expect him to rebound sooner rather than later.

After all, even the best go through lean patches, and it’s only a matter of time before he rediscovers his scoring touch.

Will O’Rouke and Nathan Smith look more than capable of “replacing” Tim Southee

New Zealand hasn’t had much to celebrate in this series, but the performances of Will O’Rourke and Nathan Smith have been a bright spot.

With Tim Southee - arguably New Zealand’s greatest-ever bowler - retiring at the end of this series, the Black Caps face the daunting task of finding suitable replacements.

While replicating Southee’s achievements will be no easy feat, Nathan Smith has impressed by dismissing Joe Root multiple times in the series and showing potential with the bat.

O’Rourke, on the other hand, bowled with great control and skill, even if the numbers didn’t fully reflect his efforts.

These two players have undoubtedly been a positive takeaway for New Zealand in what has otherwise been a challenging series.

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