England vs New Zealand, 3rd Test, New Zealand tour of England, 2026 - Player HighlightsENG vs NZ, 3rd Test, New Zealand tour of England, 2026 - Player Highlights

Nathan Smith to Josh Tongue, no run, fuller length delivery and shaping away from outside off - Tongue plays inside the line and lets it go

Nathan Smith to Josh Tongue, no run, on a good length and just outside off - Tongue prods well forward in defence

Nathan Smith to Josh Tongue, no run, fuller length delivery outside off - Tongue leans well forward as he defends it back at the bowler

Nathan Smith to Jofra Archer, out Caught by Daryl Mitchell!! That's a snorter and Archer has gloved it to first slip. All happened in slow motion and a startled Archer stays on for a moment before trudging his way back to the pavilion. Reared up from a length and caught the England number 9 napping, he was prodding forward in defence, the extra bounce takes the glove and pops up for a simple catch to Mitchell at first slip. The frustrating partnership has been broken and Smith has his fourth wicket. Jofra Archer c Daryl Mitchell b Nathan Smith 15(33) [4s-1]

Nathan Smith to Jofra Archer, 2 runs, fuller length delivery and well wide of off - Archer leans into the drive and places it into the gap wide of cover, comes back for the second

Nathan Smith to Jofra Archer, no run, on a good length and at the stumps, Archer leans across and defends it to mid-on

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, 1 run, short of a good length and just outside off, stabbed behind square on the off-side for a single

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, no run, a chance at the bowler's end, but Jofra Archer scrambles back in time, was looking for a quick single after Atkinson punched one straight to the fielder at mid-off. Rachin with the shy and he would havce been short with a direct hit

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, no run, short of a good length and well wide of off, left alone

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, no run, short of a good length and just outside off - dabbed with an angled bat to gully

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, no run, fuller length delivery outside off - Atkinson prods well forward and punches it to mid-off

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, no run, fuller length delivery on off, Atkinson presses forward on the drive and inside halves it to mid-on

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, no run, short of length around off, Atkinson gets behind the line and defends to mid-on

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, no run, that's better. Smith goes wide of the crease, angles it in and gets it to straighten. Atkinson is rooted to the crease and has a tentative poke, beaten on the outside-edge. The length could have been a tad fuller..

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, no run, 131ks on a length and outside off, Atkinson meets it on top of the bounce and defends to cover

Nathan Smith to Jofra Archer, 1 run, 133ks full and outside off, Archer blocks with an angled bat to point and crosses over

Nathan Smith to Jofra Archer, 2 runs, 133ks fuller and outside off, Archer angles it with an open bat face square of the wicket and races back for the second

Nathan Smith to Jofra Archer, no run, 128ks fuller than a good length, Archer dangles his bat out, well away from the body and is beaten on the outside-edge

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, no run, that shall be lunch on day 3 - was on the pads and clipped it through the on-side

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, no run, on a length around off, nips back in as Gus Atkinson defends it

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, no run, keeps slightly low as Gus Atkinson flicks it towards mid-wicket

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, FOUR, drifting on the pads, Gus Atkinson flicks it through square leg for a well timed boundary. Nathan Smith wasn't happy with that line

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, 1 run, pitched up by the bowler outside off, square driven through point for a single

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, back of a length delivery around off, Harry Brook plays it on the rise, knocking it towards cover

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, pitched up by the bowler around middle and leg, Harry Brook knocks it towards mid-wicket

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, 1 run, square driven through the off-side by Gus Atkinson

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, no run, looks to punch this ball that keeps slightly low, gets an inside edge onto the pads

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, 1 run, clipped towards the on-side by Harry Brook

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, played towards the off-side by Harry Brook

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, good length delivery around middle and leg, keeps low and Harry Brook clips it towards mid-wicket

Nathan Smith to Atkinson, 1 run, good length delivery around middle and leg, clipped through square leg

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, 1 run, square driven through the off-side by Harry Brook for a single

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no ball, good length delivery around middle and leg, nips back in as Harry Brook clips it towards mid-wicket

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, keeps a touch around middle and leg, Harry Brook defends it down the pitch

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, nudged towards mid-wicket by Harry Brook

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, pitched up by the bowler around off, Harry Brook defends it

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, 2 runs, tad short outside off, Harry Brook looks to defend, gets an outside edge past the fielder at slip. Two runs taken

Nathan Smith to Stokes, no run, fuller and closer to off, Stokes leans forward and blocks to mid-off

Nathan Smith to Stokes, FOUR, did that carry? Conway was the fielder at gully. Smith looks up at the heavens. Just carried. Full and outside off, Stokes sees that is there for the drive and goes for it, plays it away from the body and the outside-edge goes low to the right of gully. Conway dives across and gets fingertips. Tough chance and you need those to stick

Nathan Smith to Stokes, byes, FOUR, that's harsh on Blundell. Smith sprays it way down leg, Stokes does not bother and Blundell moves to his right, but can't make the stop. It will go down as byes under his name

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, 1 run, 130ks on a length and outside off, Brook dabs it to backward point

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, 133ks fuller and outside off, Brook prods forward and eases it to cover

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, 130ks full pitcher close to off, Brook pushes it back to Smith and he stops with his outstretched right hand

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, 131ks on a length and outside off, Brook lifts his bat and lets it go

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, 133ks fullish delivery on off, Brook toe-ends the block to mid-wicket

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, FOUR, back to back fours. Now to the other side of the wicket. Smith just losing his line in the last couple of deliveries. This time he offers width outside off, Brook opens the bat face and uses Smith's pace to guide it behind square. O'Rourke gets across and dives but his effort goes in vain

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, FOUR, what timing! Smith goes wide of the crease and angles it in, the length is was short and Brook gets on top of the bounce, tucks it square and the ball races away. Just a turn of the wrists and there was no stopping that

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no ball, 131ks full and attacking the stumps, Brook blocks it with a straight bat to mid-on. Smith has overstepped..

Nathan Smith to Stokes, leg byes, 1 run, sliding down leg, Stokes misses the glance and the ball deflects off the pad

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, 1 run, 133ks back of a length around the hips, Brook tucks it to deep backward square

Nathan Smith to Stokes, no run, 135ks angled in from round the wicket, Stokes stands tall and defends it back to Smith

Nathan Smith to Jamie Smith, out Caught by Daryl Mitchell!! That's a brilliant catch by Mitchell. He's standing at first slip and in a conventional position especially with Blundell standing up to the stumps. The ball goes low to him and he bends down, gets his fingers under the ball and scoops it up. The line was the key here from Nathan Smith - he went wider of off-stump and lured Jamie Smith into the drive, the keeper-batter couldn't resist and goes for the expansive shot, the outside-edge goes low to first slip and Mitchell takes care of the rest. This is a superb spell from Nathan Smith this morning, he started the day by trapping Root LBW and now has Jamie Smith caught in the slip cordon. Jamie Smith c Daryl Mitchell b Nathan Smith 1(12)

Nathan Smith to Jamie Smith, no run, 131ks nip-backer but the length is fraction short, Smith hops in the crease and is beaten on the inside-edge. The ball strikes him on the thigh pad and lobs towards gully

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, 1 run, on a length and outside off, Brook prods forward and angles his bat to ease it through backward point

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, 133ks full and angling in, Brook pushes it off the inner half to mid-wicket

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, FOUR, nicely played! Back of a length delivery, bit of extra bounce and Brook gets on top of the bounce, plays it with soft hands and guides it through the slip cordon. The ball went along the ground between slip and gully

Nathan Smith to Jamie Smith, no run, 130ks full and targeting off, Smith leans forward and defends to cover

Nathan Smith to Jamie Smith, no run, 133ks slanting in around off, Smith takes his bottom hand off and inside halves the block to square leg

Nathan Smith to Jamie Smith, no run, attacks the stumps, Smith gets behind the line and blocks with a straight bat

Nathan Smith to Jamie Smith, no run, 135ks goes wide and angles it in, Smith prods forward and defends to the off-side

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, 1 run, this time Brook manages to guide it backward of point. He opens the bat face and steers it to the deep fielder

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, ufff! Nathan Smith is testing the England batters with his accuracy. Back of a length but in the channel, Brook wanted to open the bat face and run it down to third man, beaten on the outside-edge. Excellent take by Blundell

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no ball, 135ks fuller and close to off, Brook does not move his feet much but blocks solidly with a straight bat. Smith has overstepped..

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, 133ks back of a length slanting in, Brook turns it with soft hands to short mid-wicket

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, 135ks fuller and homing in on off, Brook blocks it with a straight bat to cover

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, uhhh! Now goes past the bat. 131ks on a length and angling in, Brook does not move his feet much and tries to defend, the ball holds its line and beats the outside-edge. For a change Blundell is not able to glove the ball

Nathan Smith to Harry Brook, no run, 133ks good length ball around off, Brook prods forward and defends to the off-side

Nathan Smith to Root, out Lbw!! This is a big moment in the game. New Zealand needed a boost to start the day and they have got it with the wicket of Root. This looked out in real time but ball-tracking showed it to be just clipping leg-stump. The ploy to attack the stumps/pads with Blundell standing up worked for Henry at the Oval, now has worked for Nathan Smith. He keeps it full and gets the ball to tail in, beats Root's inside-edge and strikes him low on the pad, the impact is right in front of the stumps and that's why Rod Tucker had his finger up in a flash. Root though is not happy with the decision and shakes his head as he trudges off. Root lbw b Nathan Smith 21(46) [4s-3]

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, 127ks back of a length outside off, Root lifts his bat and lets it go

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, a good tight over this from Smith. Kept bringing the ball back in, not giving Root any room whatsoever. The batter also does well to play out this over. Blocked once again

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, another one on length coming back in, Root watches it closely and defends it right under his eyes

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, shaping into the batter, on the off-stump and Root plays it tentatively on the front foot, and chips it to the left of the bowler

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, slanting into the batter from the off-stump, Root pushes it back to the bowler

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, drops it a bit fuller and gets it to come back in, almost hurries Root who gets his bat down on time and works it to the leg side

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, back of a length at 132kph, the right-hander stands tall and tucks it to square leg

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, that holds its line, and beats Root fair and square. Was outside off and Root tried to block it, but the ball nipped away and missed the outside edge. Bundell moves to his left but brings his gloves up to collect the ball to his right

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, a bit of inward movement at 128kph. Not enough to trouble Root who blocks it to the left of Smith

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, full and outside off, drives the batter forward, as Root times it to the fielder at short cover

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, goes fuller outside off at 130kph, meets the straight bat of Root

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, continues to come back in from over the wicket and beats Root on the bounce. Wanted to work it to the on side but gets hit on the thigh pad

Nathan Smith to Root, FOUR, that's been guided nicely by Root and he gets off the mark with a boundary. Allows the ball to bounce, outside off and guides it to the right of the slip fielder for a boundary

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, 1 run, full and Bethell pushes it back to the bowler who falls on his run-up and that allows the batters to scamper off a single

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, 131kph short delivery outside off, Bethell stands on his toes and blocks it to cover-point

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, on length with the ball getting into the stumps, Bethell pushes it to mid-on with soft hands

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, nips back in from short of a length, over the off-stump, Bethell jumps and knocks it to the off side

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, puts in a bit more effort as Bethell works it to the off side

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, 2 runs, coming in with the angle at 131kph. Bethell tucked it to backward square leg and went for two. However, Root was slightly lazy with his running and the fielder sent in a throw at the non-striker's end. A direct hit would have sent Root back

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, on the pads and the batter nudges it to the leg side

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, moves back in from just outside off, Root gets his bat down and blocks it

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, keeping the stumps into play, Root blocks it

Nathan Smith to Root, no run, gets this one to come into the stumps, Root is hurried a bit but does well to work it into the leg side

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, out Bowled!! Got him! Duckett has dragged this one back onto the stumps and will have to walk back into the hut. The left-hander was batting like a dream, and New Zealand are delighted with his departure. Nothing special about the delivery as it was thrown slightly wide, came back in with the angle and Duckett put his bat down, only to get an under-edge onto the stumps. Wanted to work it to the third man area, but will have to walk back after scoring a stunning hundred. Raises his bat to the crowd, but NZ finally have an opening. Ben Duckett b Nathan Smith 113(99) [4s-19]

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, FOUR, that's been clipped away to backward square leg with ease. Plays the ball late, waits for it to come in and Duckett tucks it wide of the fielder for a boundary

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, on the stumps this time around, defended back into the pitch

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, 3 runs, nicely played, and very nicely stopped by the fielder in the third man region. Duckett rides the bounce and steers it to the right of the backward point fielder. The ball was racing away for a boundary but Foulkes covered a good bit of ground and made a desperate dive to save one run for his team

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, 1 run, full and coming in a bit, Bethell stands tall and drives it down the ground where the mid-on fielder dives to his right and saves three runs for his team

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, hits the length, defended by the batter

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, very good work by Bundell behind the stumps. The balls bounces a bit more from the length and surprises Bethell who is beaten fair and square. The keeper collects the ball neatly to his left and removes the bails. There was an appeal but the batter never left the crease

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no ball, 136kph on the stumps, slanting in and Bethell blocks it welll. The bowler has overstepped though

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, 1 run, back of a length coming back in from round the wicket, the left-hander tucks it off his hip for a single

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, 133ks on a length and close to off, Bethell gets on top of the bounce and blocks to cover

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, 133ks good length ball around off, Bethell removes his bottom hand off the bat handle and defends to the on-side

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, on a length and close to off, Bethell inside halves the block to mid-wicket

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, back of a length close to off, Bethell rides the bounce and turns it to mid-wicket

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, good length ball at the stumps, Bethell defends it down the pitch

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, 1 run, angled into the left-hander, Duckett flicks it to deep backward square

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, good length delivery outside off, Ben Duckett defends it into the off-side. That shall be Tea on Day 2. The players shake hands and start walking back to have some refreshments

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, 1 run, eased towards the off-side with soft hands for a single

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, opens the bat face, steering this length delivery to gully

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, on a length around off, shapes back in slightly as Jacob Bethell looks to defend, gets an inside edge onto the back pad

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, 1 run, on a length around middle and leg, nudged towards mid-wicket for a single

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, that kept low around off, Ben Duckett pats it into the off-side

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, goes for a drive, doesn't middle it though

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, pitched up by the bowler around middle and leg, pushed to mid-on

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, tad short outside off, carved towards gully

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, pitched up by the bowler around middle and leg, clipped in front of mid-wicket

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, back of a length delivery outside off, eased into the off-side

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, FOUR, crunched through cover! Short and wide outside off, Jacob Bethell nails the punch through cover and finds the boundary once again. Looked like a good shot, but the delivery wasn't great either. Too wide and loose

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, on a length around off, Ben Duckett looks to defend, almost chips it back to the bowler

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, FOUR, tad short outside off, Ben Duckett rocks back in the crease and carves it through backward point. There was a fielder in the deep, but this was timed and placed past him by the opener. Nasser Hussain on air reckons that is Duckett's favourite shot

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, 1 run, fraction short at the hips, tucked towards the on-side by Jacob Bethell

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, walks out of his crease, steering this towards backward point

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, back of a length delivery outside off, Jacob Bethell defends it towards the off-side

Nathan Smith to Jacob Bethell, no run, a brief appeal for an lbw, but there was a big inside edge. Jacob Bethell was down the wicket to defend the length ball, but the ball shaped back in and took the inside edge, before it thudded into his pads. Nathan Smith immediately confirms with the keeper whether there was bat involved. He heard two sounds there

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, FOUR, banged in short by Nathan Smith, some extra carry as Ben Duckett opens the bat face, and steers it through the gap between gully and 3rd slip

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, on a length around middle and leg, clipped towards mid-on by Ben Duckett

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, 2 runs, drifting on the pads, worked through the on-side with a closed bat face, a couple of runs taken

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, on a length around middle and leg, nudged to mid-on by Ben Duckett

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, FOUR, width on offer outside off, Ben Duckett plays it late, carving it away to the deep point fence. Ben Duckett is dealing in boundaries. NZ would hope that dropped catch won't cost them much

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, lovely delivery outside off, 135 kph, on a length and shaping away from the batter, Ben Duckett has a poke at it, gets beaten due to the movement

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, back of a length delivery around middle and leg, clipped towards mid-on by Ben Duckett

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, FOUR, insult to injury. Back of a length delivery outside off, Ben Duckett stays put and crunches it through cover for a rollicking boundary. No need to run for those

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, put down by Nicholls at 3rd slip! Could have been the 2nd wicket. A short and quick delivery outside off, straightens off the deck slightly, Ben Duckett looks to defend, but the outside edge flies straight to 3rd slip. Nicholls gets his hands to it towards his right, but puts down a regulation chance

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, tad short from round the wicket, Ben Duckett stands tall and knocks it down the pitch

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, back of a length outside off, Ben Duckett pats it towards backward point

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, on a length outside off, Ben Duckett opens the bat face, steering it to gully

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, FOUR, width on offer outside off, Ben Duckett throws the kitchen sink at it, drilling it through cover for the second boundary of the over. This one looked far more convincing

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, on a length around off, shapes back in as Ben Duckett knocks it down the pitch

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, FOUR, lovely drive to get going. Pitched up by the pacer outside off, scrambled seam delivery and Ben Duckett leans forward to cream it through covers, that's the first boundary of the innings

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, pitched up by the bowler around off, shapes back in slightly as Ben Duckett knocks it to cover

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, drifting on the pads, clipped towards mid-wicket by Ben Duckett

Nathan Smith to Ben Duckett, no run, pitched up by the bowler outside off, square driven to point