As New Zealand dominated England's batting lineup, England were dismissed for a dismal 143 on day two of the third Test. New Zealand then built a commanding lead of 340 runs, reaching 136-3 in their second innings with seven wickets remaining. Mitchell Santner took three wickets for just seven runs, while Matt Henry claimed four wickets for 48 runs to put the hosts in a strong position heading into day three. England's Ollie Pope and Ben Stokes managed to add 52 runs for the sixth wicket, but both were eventually dismissed by Santner.
On the first day of the second Test between England and New Zealand, Harry Brook delivered another brilliant performance, scoring 123 runs off just 115 balls. His partnership with Ollie Pope (66 runs) saved England from a disastrous start at 43-4, leading them to a respectable 280 all out. New Zealand, in their reply, had a shaky start as well, ending the day at 86-5, with Brydon Carse taking two crucial wickets.
After being put into bat, England struggled at 43-4 before a brilliant 174-run partnership between Harry Brook and Ollie Pope helped them reach a respectable 280 in their first innings. In their response, New Zealand were also in trouble at 86-5, with Brydon Carse taking two key wickets including that of captain Kane Williamson. Brook's 123 off 115 balls was the standout performance of the day and helped continue his impressive run of form in overseas Tests.
After a convincing eight-wicket victory in the first Test against New Zealand, England has chosen to maintain the same winning lineup for the second Test in Wellington. This means that Ollie Pope will continue to serve as stand-in wicketkeeper while newcomer Jacob Bethell will retain his spot at No. 3. Pope performed well behind the stumps and also contributed a solid 77 runs with the bat in the first Test, while Bethell sealed the win with an impressive unbeaten 50. With this consistent lineup, England looks to continue their success in the three-Test series.
After a tough tour in Pakistan, Ollie Pope was in need of a turnaround in form. However, his struggles batting at No 3 have forced a switch to No 6, accompanied by also keeping wicket. With the help of mentor and former England great, Alec Stewart, Pope was able to score 77 in the first Test against New Zealand. The 26-year-old credits their open discussions and guidance in finding his best form and aiming to secure a long-term spot as England's No 3 batsman.
England's Harry Brook came close to breaking his compatriot Ben Duckett's record for the fastest to reach 2000 runs in red-ball cricket, but fell just 7 deliveries short during the ongoing Test against New Zealand. Despite the disappointment, Brook's partnership with Ollie Pope helped England recover from a shaky start and he also became the second-fastest to reach the milestone in Test cricket. Brook now has the second-most number of Test hundreds for England in the ongoing WTC cycle.
During the Christchurch Test between New Zealand and England, Glenn Phillips shocked the world yet again with an incredible catch. On the second day, Ollie Pope hit a cut shot on Tim Southee's delivery, only to be caught by Phillips with a captivating dive towards his right. With this catch, Phillips added another stunning catch to his already impressive resume, leaving fans in awe and undoubtedly cementing his title as 'Superman' on the field.
New Zealand will go head-to-head with England in a three-match Test series, paying tribute to former players Graham Thorpe and Martin Crowe. Led by captain Tom Latham, the Kiwis will aim to continue their impressive red-ball form, while England faces challenges with their limited bowling options. The series, to be played in iconic venues across New Zealand, will also feature promising young players like Rachin Ravindra and Ollie Pope. Fans in India can catch all the action on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV.
Brendon McCullum, head coach of the England cricket team, has raised doubts about Jofra Archer's chances of playing in The Ashes series next year. Despite being declared fit, Archer may not be automatically selected for the squad, according to McCullum. Ollie Pope, who has been struggling in recent Test matches, has been given McCullum's backing to play against New Zealand. However, Archer's return to red-ball cricket may be further delayed due to his commitments with Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming IPL season.
On a third day of the first Test between Pakistan and England, Joe Root and Harry Brook shined with their unbeaten centuries to lead England's strong reply. Earlier, Pakistan's total of 556 was boosted by a fiery century from Agha Salman and steady contributions from Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique. Despite a second-ball duck from stand-in captain Ollie Pope, England remains in a solid position to avoid a follow-on with 261 runs still needed.