Overview

• England concludes its busiest Test cricket year since 2016 with the final match of a three-Test series against New Zealand, aiming for a 3-0 whitewash.
• Captain Ben Stokes has emphasized focusing on the present after admitting he previously placed too much emphasis on the 2025-26 Ashes series.
• Harry Brook has emerged as a key player for England, rising to No. 1 in the Test batting rankings and being hailed as a 'generational talent' by cricket greats.
• England's squad has undergone significant changes in 2024, with younger players like Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse stepping up, while veterans like James Anderson and Jonny Bairstow have moved on.
• New Zealand's Tim Southee will retire after this match, concluding a 16-year international career at his home ground, Seddon Park.