England signed off 2024 with a chastening 423-run defeat against New Zealand in Hamilton, with injured captain Ben Stokes not fit enough to go down with the ship.
Faced with a gargantuan chase of 658 and with the series already secured, England faded away for 234 on the fourth afternoon, finishing nine down as Stokes opted not to risk aggravating his hamstring problems by chasing a lost cause.
He watched his team slump to the fourth highest runs defeat in English history from behind a pair of sunglasses and is set to undergo a scan before leaving the country to determine the severity of his latest setback.
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England have made it plain they dislike the concept of a ‘dead rubber’ in international cricket but, having already secured the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy with handsome victories in Christchurch and Wellington, there are at least mitigating circumstances for a major misfire like this.
They end the year with nine wins and eight losses from their exhausting programme of 17 Tests, with three series wins and two losses – a tally which accurately reflects an up-and-down journey for a team in the early stages of transition.
The biggest show of resistance came from one of the fresh-faced youngsters they have introduced, 21-year-old Jacob Bethell hitting a stylish 76 in the morning session to bow out of his maiden tour on a high note.
He has hit half-centuries in all three Tests against the Black Caps, confirming his rare promise in an unfamiliar position, although all three have come in the second innings with the tone of the game well established.
England’s Jacob Bethell bats on day four (Andrew Cornaga/Photosport/AP)
With Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope both struggling, his name will continue to attract plenty more attention.
A maiden first-class century appeared to be calling Bethell, but he instead became the final wicket in Tim Southee’s distinguished career.
The veteran seamer retired at the end the match, taking the youngster’s scalp with him as a leaving present.
England did not linger long after the lunch break, losing their last three wickets in the space of 12 deliveries as they decided to embrace the inevitable.