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 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

William ORourke to Root, byes, 1 run, looks like it is a plan to get Root glancing with the leg slip in place because ORourke strays down leg once again, Root does not bother to play and Blundell fumbles behind the stumps

William ORourke to Root, no run, starts with a wayward delivery down leg. Too far down for Root to play the glance and it needed a dive from Blundell to glove the ball

Zakary Foulkes to Root, 1 run, shapes into the batter who takes a big stride forward and pushes it to the off side to get to the other end

Zakary Foulkes to Root, no run, nips back in from the length, Root defends it to his right with soft hands

William ORourke to Root, 1 run, length delivery outside off, Root allows it to come to him and knocks it to point to get to the other end

William ORourke to Root, no run, slightly outside the off stump as Root comes on the front foot and defends it to mid-off

William ORourke to Root, no run, targets the stumps at 140kph but no movement on offer, Root blocks it with a straight bat

Zakary Foulkes to Root, 1 run, pulls his length back as the ball slants into the pads, Root comes across and tucks it to deep square leg for a single

Zakary Foulkes to Root, no run, just a bit of away movement at 130kph, Root opens the blade and works it to his right

Zakary Foulkes to Root, no run, comes back into the stumps but Root was ready and blocks it

Zakary Foulkes to Root, FOUR, shot! Just opens the face of the bat on this length delivery and pushes it to the off side to beat the cover and sweeper cover fielders. The ball races away for a boundary

Zakary Foulkes to Root, no run, keeps its line at just outside off, Root does well to play it late to the third man area

Zakary Foulkes to Root, no run, very close to the pads but Root knew what he was doing as he blocks it to the off side. Wanted a single as well but decides against it

Zakary Foulkes to Root, 1 run, on length with a bit of inward movement just outside off, Root opens the face of the bat and guides it to backward point

Zakary Foulkes to Root, no run, moving into the right-hander, Root stands tall and drives it to mid-on

William ORourke to Root, 1 run, on the rise from Root who punches this short of a length delivery to square of the wicket

William ORourke to Root, 1 run, a bit of extra bounce from the length, Root wants to block it but the ball comes at a bit more height, hits the upper part of the bat and goes to backward square leg

William ORourke to Root, no run, another one angling down the leg side. There is a leg slip but this was too far away from the batter. Goes into the gloves of the keeper

William ORourke to Root, no run, short of a length just outside off, Root on his toes inside halves it back into the surface

William ORourke to Root, no run, back of a length delivery on the stumps that kept going to the left of the batter and the keeper. Bundell dives low to his right and collects the ball

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

Ben Sears to Root, 1 run, now steers this one to point and retains the strike. 12 runs coming from this over

Ben Sears to Root, no ball, tries a yorker at 125kph. Outside from the off-stump and Root digs it out back into the pitch. Wait a second, the bowler has overstepped

Ben Sears to Root, 1 run, width on offer and Root slaps it to the deep point area for one run

Ben Sears to Root, FOUR, easy pickings for Root, and it's 200 up for England. New Zealand are trying to bring the ball back into Root, but this one ends up being on the pads and the batter whips it to deep backward square leg

Ben Sears to Root, no ball, 1 run, the pacer has overstepped and it will be a no ball. Angling into the pads and Root works it to backward square leg for one

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

Ben Sears to Root, no run, shorter and outside off, Root jumps across and plays it with soft hands to his right. Wanted a single but Bethell turns him down

Ben Sears to Root, no run, slightly fuller this time around at less than 130kph, Root defends it close to his pads

Ben Sears to Root, no run, back of a length delivery at 135kph, Root stands tall and defends it right under his eyes

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