New Zealand cricket fans witnessed an unforgettable moment as their team made history with a massive 423-run victory against England in the Hamilton Test. This triumph was not just about the scoreline but also about how the Kiwis bounced back after a crushing loss earlier in the series.
Let’s break down the records and stats from this epic match.
New Zealand’s Historic Comeback
- 423-Run Win: New Zealand’s victory by 423 runs is now tied as their biggest Test win margin ever. They previously achieved this against Sri Lanka in Christchurch in 2018, where the target was 660 runs.
- First Team to Turn Tables: This win makes New Zealand the first-ever team to win a Test by over 300 runs after losing the previous Test by over 300 runs. Earlier in the series, England defeated them by 323 runs in Wellington.
- Rare Feat in Cricket History: A similar situation occurred in the 1936-37 Ashes series. England thrashed Australia by 322 runs in the first match, and Australia returned the favor with a 365-run win in the third Test.
England’s Unwanted Record
- Two 400+ Run Defeats in a Year: England became the first team to lose by over 400 runs twice in a single calendar year.
- Loss 1: A 434-run defeat to India in Rajkot (February 2024).
- Loss 2: This 423-run thrashing by New Zealand.
- England’s Struggles: Out of the 15 Test matches won by 400+ runs in history, six have come against England.
Seddon Park: New Zealand’s Fortress
New Zealand has turned Seddon Park in Hamilton into a fortress:
- Since 2012, they’ve played 10 Tests here and haven’t lost a single one.
- Wins: 8
- Draws: 2
Their last defeat at Seddon Park came against South Africa in 2012.
Individual Milestones and Records
Mitchell Santner Joins Elite Company
- Santner became only the 13th player in history to score 40+ runs and take 3 or more wickets in both innings of a Test match.
- He’s the first to achieve this since Daniel Vettori did it against Bangladesh in 2008.
Joe Root Breaks Records
- Most Runs vs New Zealand: Joe Root now holds the record for most Test runs against New Zealand with 1925 runs, overtaking Javed Miandad (1919).
- Runs Leader Against Two Teams: Root is only the second batter to be the highest run-scorer against two different nations:
- India: 2846 runs
- New Zealand: 1925 runs
- Dominance in New Zealand: Root became the first visiting player to score over 1000 Test runs in New Zealand. He also has the most 50+ scores (8) in the country as a visiting player.
New Zealand’s Spin Magic in 2024
- Santner’s Test Wickets: Santner has taken 27 wickets in Tests this year, tying with Daniel Vettori’s 2009 record. Only Vettori’s 54 wickets in 2008 surpass this.
- Spinner Contributions: New Zealand spinners have delivered seven 4+ wicket hauls in Tests in 2024:
- Mitchell Santner: 3
- Ajaz Patel: 3
- Glenn Phillips: 1
This is New Zealand’s second-highest tally for spinners in a calendar year, behind the 9 hauls in 2008, largely achieved by Vettori.
Final Thoughts
New Zealand’s record-breaking performance against England is not just a massive victory but a symbol of resilience and comeback power. With key players like Joe Root and Mitchell Santner entering the record books, this Test series has already earned a place in cricket history.