New Zealand thump England in series finale

Third Test, Hamilton (day four of five)

New Zealand 347 (Santner 76; Potts 4-90) & 453 (Williamson 156, Young 60, Mitchell 60)

England 143 (Henry 4-48, Santner 3-7) & 234 (Bethell 76, Root 54; Santner 4-85)

New Zealand won by 424 runs; England won series 2-1

Scorecard

England's year ended with a thumping defeat by New Zealand, who sent seamer Tim Southee into retirement with a consolation victory in the third and final Test.

Set a fanciful 658, England were hustled out for 234 midway through the fourth afternoon to lose by 424 runs, their largest defeat by the Black Caps and fourth-largest by anyone.

Jacob Bethell further enhanced his growing reputation with 76, coming through an electrifying spell by New Zealand pace bowler Will O'Rourke.

Bethell added 104 with Joe Root, who made 54. When Root was out, Brook perished to O'Rourke for one and wickets fell with regularity in Hamilton.

The nadir was vice-captain Ollie Pope being bowled for 17 attempting a reverse-scoop at Matt Henry.

Captain Ben Stokes, who suffered a recurrence of a left-hamstring injury on day three, did not bat. He had been expected to have a scan prior to the fourth day but will instead be assessed in the coming days.

England's final demise, with their last four wickets falling for 19 runs, meant Southee was not required to bowl after lunch.

He instead led his team from the field, the 36-year-old ending a 16-year, 107-Test career with 391 wickets.

England still win the series 2-1. They embark on a white-ball programme after Christmas before the Test summer begins against Zimbabwe in May.

A 2024 that began with an all-time great victory over India in Hyderabad ended with a humbling in Hamilton. For the fourth time in five series, England have lost the final match, three of them dead rubbers.

A first series win in New Zealand since 2008 is a superb result, concluded with this meek surrender. England have a habit of not just losing, but getting hammered.

The decision to field first at the toss can come into slight question, though this game was lost on a second day when England folded to 143 all out, including a collapse of 8-66.

England's record for this year reads nine wins and eight losses. They probably deserve marginally more credit than the numbers suggest, given eight of their Tests were in Asia and they have revamped their side with the introduction of a number of young players.

Still, they enter a new year with a number of questions. The form of opener Zak Crawley is a concern and off-spinner Shoaib Bashir seems to have gone backwards. Can room be found for Bethell in the summer? Most importantly, can Stokes stay fit enough to function as an all-rounder?

India at home and an Ashes in Australia await in a defining 2025 for Stokes, Brendon McCullum and England.