Second Test ratings: Which England players got 3/10?

England were on the end of a thumping 253-run defeat against New Zealand in the second Test at The Oval.

The result meant the Kiwis squared the series at 1-1 and set up a tantalising decider at Trent Bridge.

It was largely a chastening Test for an inexperienced England side where acting captain Joe Root had more appearances than the rest of the team combined.

Here’s how England’s players, and their opponents, rated.

England

Ben Duckett – 4

Looked in good touch with a fluent 36 off 25 balls before he was barbecued by his opening partner during a run out in the first innings. Gave his wicket away cheaply in the chase.

Emilio Gay – 5

Showed his battling qualities with a dogged half-century in the first innings – England’s top score – and deserves a run in the side.

Jacob Bethell – 3

After scores of six and 14 at Lord’s the 22-year-old made nine and nought, which underlined an obvious rustiness for the longer format given his lack of red-ball cricket. Claimed some handy wickets with the ball, but questions persist of his suitability to bat at number three.

Joe Root – 6

Became only the second player to reach 14,000 Test runs with 77 in the second innings and England held faint hope while he was at the crease. However, this was a largely miserable return to captaincy.

Harry Brook – 5

A flashy half-century in the second innings entertained the crowd on Saturday, but this was an occasion England needed him to deliver a big hundred of substance against the odds.

James Rew – 3

Looked a little out of his depth on debut. There were some glimpses of promise with the bat during knocks of 24 and 15, but dropped chances with the gloves, which reflected the fact his wicketkeeping still needs to be polished.

Jordan Cox – 4

The temperament to play Test cricket largely looked to be there, even if his scores of 27 and 25 did not set the world alight.

Jofra Archer – 7

England’s best player. Bowled some ferociously quick spells that unsettled New Zealand’s batters and gave England belief they could wrestle their way back into the match. Deserved more than five wickets.

Matthew Fisher – 6

Never gave anything less than 100%. Grafted a determined half-century in a tail-end rescue act to keep England in the game and stuck to his plans to build pressure with the ball during tough periods.

Josh Tongue – 5

A player considered England’s strike bowler had his moments but was not quite able to make the kind of impact on the contest he would have liked.

Sonny Baker – 5

Modest returns on his debut but there were signs he has the pace, skills and character to cut it on the international stage at some stage down the line.

New Zealand

Tom Latham – 6

Continued to struggle at the top of the order with an average of 8.5 from four innings in the series so far, but barely put a foot wrong as captain on the field.

Devon Conway – 2

A quiet match for the left-handed opener who never got going with the bat in either innings.

Henry Nicholls – 8

Asked to step into the sizable shoes of Kane Williamson and his first Test century in England in the second innings was a crucial factor in New Zealand’s victory.

Rachin Ravindra – 6

Produced dazzling strokeplay in tandem with the more measured Nicholls as he made England pay for dropping him. Spilled catches of his own in the field.

Daryl Mitchell – 7

Earned a reputation as New Zealand’s go-to man in a crisis – but on this occasion he showed composure to weaken England’s resolve.

Tom Blundell – 7

Superb with the gauntlets, and excelled standing up to the stumps. A gritty half-century as well.

Glenn Phillips – 8

Became only the third New Zealander to make centuries in all three formats with a fluent hundred at a vital stage early in the game just as England had looked to assert their authority.

Nathan Smith – 5

A solitary wicket in the match and largely struggled to impose himself.

Kyle Jamieson – 6

An influential spell on Saturday when he removed Gay and Bethell in quick succession gave New Zealand the impetus to put England to the sword. Valuable first-innings runs down the order.

Will O’Rourke – 6

Provided the odd moment of spice when Latham wanted to inject a bit of pace.

Matt Henry – 9

A masterful display from a skillful operator who was the standout player on either side. Earned the player-of-the-match award as he finished with two five-fors and 11 wickets in the match, including Root and Brook in both innings.