England captain Ben Stokes suffered one other injury setback as his side endured a demoralising day in Hamilton.
Recent Zealand battered the tourists into submission as they set an enormous goal of 658 on the third evening of the third Test at Seddon Park before Ben Duckett and the embattled Zak Crawley were worn out late on.
Crawley was dismissed for the sixth time in six attempts by his tormentor Matt Henry within the closing moments, lbw for five to go away him with just 52 runs at a mean of 8.66.
He left the pitch with what some selection words for umpire Adrian Holdstock, who erred with the bowler on a decent call, although his real problems lie closer to home.
Yet despite a horrendous scorecard, which ended with England flailing at 18 for 2, they someway had even greater concerns.
Stokes’ Injury
They’ve already secured the series with thumping wins in Christchurch and Wellington, rendering a blowout on this dead rubber lower on their list of priorities than the fitness of their skipper.
Stokes left the sector clutching his left hamstring in an elongated afternoon session, pulling up in his follow through and immediately leaving the sector two balls into an over.
It was his thirteenth of the innings, thirty seventh of the match and 67th of the trip – a significantly increased workload than anything he has managed over the past 18 months.
The 33-year-old badly tore the identical muscle in August while playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, missing the following 4 Tests.
He had previously undergone a significant operation on his left knee on the back end of last 12 months, undergoing a punishing rehabilitation regime in a bid to resume his work as a totally functioning all-rounder.
He has spoken contentedly about rejoining the seam attack in Recent Zealand, pitching in together with his fellow pace men and taking seven wickets – including three late scalps to complete off the second Test.
But England will now be concerned that he has taken on an excessive amount of, raising query marks over his ability to tackle such a job within the 12 months ahead – which culminates within the hotly-anticipated Ashes in Australia.
White-ball comeback
More immediately, a lucrative stint for MI Cape Town within the South African T20 league next month and a theoretical white-ball comeback in time for February’s Champions Trophy look in serious doubt.
A transient statement from a team spokesperson confirmed Stokes was “receiving treatment” and required “further assessment” before a call was made on his availability to bat in what is definitely a wild goose chase.
Stokes’ setback was in step with a thoroughly miserable outing for England, who toiled away joylessly as their hosts took the sport ever farther from their grasp.
England’s Woes
Resuming on 136 for 3 after a washed out morning session, they moved mercilessly to 453 all out, Kane Williamson cashing in some low-cost runs to ring up his thirty third Test century and seventh at a venue where he now averages a remarkable 94.94.
Matthew Potts had earlier removed Rachin Ravindra after an oddly sedate knock of 44, but England mostly kept their fast bowlers under wraps.
Perhaps wary of seeing one other soldier go down, they handed Carse and Gus Atkinson just nine overs between them and leant heavily on Shoaib Bashir’s off-spin.
He struggled to construct pressure despite churning through 36 overs, conceding an eye-watering 170 runs and taking the consolation scalps of Williamson and Glenn Phillips as they swung for the fences.
The 21-year-old ends 2024 with 49 Test wickets and more overs than every other bowler on the planet, but the very fact his average has now ticked back over 40 is a reminder that he has yet to nail the role.
Part Timers
Things got increasingly farcical as England waited and waited for a declaration that never got here.
At one stage Harry Brook took the brand new ball together with his very occasional medium-pacers, a curiosity few can have expected to witness, and Joe Root took one for 17 in a solitary over.
Jacob Bethell also got through 14.2 overs of left-arm spin, opening his international account with three for 72. He took the last two wickets in two balls, spoiling the group’s fun after Tim Southee picked out long-on in his final innings before retirement.
The tailender was clapped to the crease by England coach Brendon McCullum, his old Test captain, and offered his second guard of honour but didn’t add to his collection of 98 sixes. Only three men, Stokes, McCullum and Adam Gilchrist, have managed 100.
Southee still managed to finish the day on a high, bowling Duckett as he inexplicably charged on the veteran’s fourth delivery.
Crawley, in desperate need of a rating, survived one lbw shout on DRS but couldn’t escape a second and looked bitterly unhappy as he stomped towards the pavilion.
READ MORE: Injury scare to Ben Stokes adds to England’s woes in third Test
