Despite the defeat, it was an overall positive series for England – their first overseas series victory since defeating Pakistan 3-0 in late 2022, and their first in New Zealand since 2008.

There were a number of encouraging developments; the emergence of Brydon Carse as red-hot old-ball operator, the prospect of Jacob Bethell as both a short-term and long-term top-order option and Harry Brook’s elevation to the top of the ICC Test batting rankings.

Here are player ratings for England after their 2-1 series win:

Zak Crawley: 1/10

52 runs @ 8.66; HS: 21

Crawley continued his miserable record against New Zealand; the Kent opener averages 10.42 from 11 Tests against the Black Caps. Matt Henry had an extraordinary hold over Crawley dismissing him in all six innings. It ends a frustrating year for Crawley: despite an encouraging tour of India, he finishes 2024 with no centuries from 14 Tests and that career average (from 53 Tests now) is now back to 30.

Ben Duckett: 5/10

180 runs @ 30; HS: 92, two fifties

A mixed series for Duckett, one of his quieter since returning to the side two years ago. He scored a fluent 92 in the second innings at Wellington when England were already ahead in the game, and his quickfire start in the Christchurch run chase was a mini-masterclass in negating early movement.

Jacob Bethell: 7.5/10

260 runs @ 52; HS: 96, three fifties

Three wickets @ 25.66; BBI: 3-72

A statement start to Test cricket from Jacob Bethell. At Wellington, the 21-year-old was four runs away from becoming England’s youngest Test centurion in 86 years; he finished the series as one of two England players to register three fifty-plus scores. He was occasionally troubled by the high pace of Will O’Rourke and is yet to make a significant score in the first innings, but Bethell looked right at home, both in Test cricket more generally but also specifically in the top order. He has given England an envious selection conundrum heading into 2025.

Joe Root: 7/10

218 runs @ 43.60; HS: 104, one hundred, one fifty

One wicket @ 17; BBI: 1-17

A steady series for the recently dethroned world number one batter. On occasion, he got himself into trouble looking to guide balls just outside off stump behind square, but it was a net positive tour for the former England captain who now has 36 Test hundreds to his name.

Harry Brook: 9/10

350 runs @ 70; HS: 171, two hundreds, one fifty

Without Brook’s contributions in the first two Tests, this series would have looked very different. If he was a touch fortunate in his 171 in Christchurch, Brook was at his scintillating best at Wellington, blasting his way to 123 scored at better than a run a ball, a knock that he has since described as his best in Test cricket.

Ollie Pope: 7/10

194 runs @ 38.80; HS: 77, two fifties

There was no three-figure contribution but Pope was England’s second-most important batter across the first Two Tests. He was chanceless in his 77 at Christchurch, only falling to a screamer from Glenn Phillips at backward point. At Wellington, he was superb as England recovered from 43-4 to post what turned out to be a match-winning first-innings total of 280. The England vice-captain also kept tidily deputising for his Surrey teammate Jamie Smith who missed the tour on paternity leave.

Ben Stokes: 7/10

158 runs @ 52.66; HS: 80, one fifty

Stokes looked closer to his best with bat and ball before limping off with another hamstring injury late in the Hamilton Test. England are a much better side with Stokes fit and firing in both departments; his longstanding injury problems hang over England’s battle to find balance to their XI. If Stokes is unable to bowl, do they field four frontline seamers and a specialist spinner as they did last summer?

Chris Woakes: 7/10

19 runs @ 9.50

Six runs @ 29.16; BBI: 3-59

England have played six away Tests this winter, winning three and losing three. Woakes played in all three victories, missing out for all three defeats. He remains a probing new-ball threat, even abroad, especially since the dual retirements of Stuart Broad and James Anderson who generally shunted Woakes to first change in previous years. After a quiet start in the first innings in Christchurch, Woakes had a good tour.

Gus Atkinson: 7/10

99 runs @ 24.75; HS: 48

12 wickets @ 24.91; BBI: 4-31

Atkinson continued his headline-grabbing start to his Test career with a hat-trick in Wellington. Even when his pace is down, as it often was through the series, he possesses a handy knack of being a regular partnership-breaker in all conditions.

Brydon Carse: 9/10

18 wickets @ 17.61; BBI: 6-42

A sensational series for Carse. Player of the Match in Christchurch where he took a 10-wicket match haul, he was a consistent threat with the old ball – something that has been a weakness for England in overseas Tests in recent years.

Matt Potts: 7/10

Five wickets @ 30.60; BBI: 4-80

Bowled with heart and vigour in his sole outing in Hamilton. He was unfortunate not to pick up more first-innings wickets even though he finished with a four-for. A very handy bowler to have in the squad for an overseas tour.

Shoaib Bashir: 3/10

Eight wickets @ 51.75; BBI: 4-69

A tough tour for Bashir whose economy rate over the series (4.75) stands out. New Zealand were almost always able to score quickly off him as he battled for control. It will be fascinating to watch how England handle his development in 2025; on current form it is hard to foresee him playing a prominent role against two of the best sides in the world outside of Asia.

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