ENG VS NZ - 2nd Test, New Zealand tour of England, 2021

Anyone who'd watched a bit of Tennis would tell you that it's almost impossible to outlast Nadal's tenacious game on a clay court. Some would even label it as one of the most improbable tasks in the world. Well, try telling that to Novak Djokovic who put paid to Rafa's impeccable record at the Roland Garros; only the third loss in 108 games for Nadal. Today, New Zealand - though not quite significant - did something similar to England who had turned Edgbaston, their fortress, into a nightmare ground for the visiting teams since that two-run enthralling win in the 2005 Ashes. This is only their third loss since 2002 and New Zealand's first win in five attempts. If the stats are against you, just smack 'em into the dirt and rewrite your own history with performances like these. Sport, you beauty! All said and done, the Kiwis have some history to make; one that really matters. In five days time they will be up against India in the WTC final in Southampton. Promises to be a cracker. Do remember to join us for that. Hope you had great fun reading every bit of this series. Until next time, this is Raju Peethala wishing sayonara on behalf of Akshay Maanay, Abhinand Raghavendran and our sharp-eyed scorer Mukesh Gowda. Special thanks to Pradeep and Sriram for the sub duties. Have a great rest of your weekend folks. *Curtains*

The New Zealand team huddle up and pose with the trophy. Tom Latham is doing the trophy-holding duties and as ever, Kane Williamson, swiftly slides into a corner before giving a pat on the back to the stand-in skipper. Luke Ronchi looks pumped. Ross Taylor and BJ Watling stroll towards the pitch as the rest of the team wander around to all corners of the ground. As Tom mentioned, there are going to be celebrations today and one that might go long into the night. New Zealand thoroughly deserve every bit of it. C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S!!

Tom Latham, New Zealand skipper: Great to have that performance under the belt. A few changes, but the guys came in and did really well. Great for New Zealand cricket. For us it's about them playing the roles they were given. Matt Henry hasn't had a lot of opportunities and he was brilliant. For us it's about trying to keep it simple and play the way we've been playing over the last two years. We put some good numbers on the board. It's a great honor and nice to learn as a captain. Big challenge coming up in a week's time and the boys are looking forward to celebrate tonight. It's a special occasion for us. The atmosphere here is amazing.

Joe Root, England skipper: You can have bad sessions on occasions with the ball, but you can't have a session like that with the bat. That cost us the game. Of course, we could have been better in other areas as well. Throughout the game, New Zealand definitely outplayed us. It's about managing those scenarios. If you lose a couple of wickets, how we are gonna get through it or how we gonna manage the pressure for a ten-over period, calm things down again. Rather than looking too technically, mentally we need to make sure we are very resilient and manage passages of play better. It's a learning, you can do so by watching the opposition. From your own experience as well, when you have got it right in the past, recall upon that and use the experience within the dressing room. You can look for excuses, but the fact of the matter is New Zealand outplayed us. They have played some really good cricket and we have not matched that. That's the disappointing thing. We know that we are a better side than this. The fact is we've all come in with game time under our belt, bowlers have had overs and batters have had time out in the middle. You can never replicate that, doesn't matter how many nets you have or how much practice you have. When you come into a Test match environment, you have to manage the different challenges. That's one thing we could have managed better this week. (On his team's approach on the final day of the first Test) I don't look back at that and see that any differently. Having batted on that surface, it was a real challenge to score at 7-8 RPO for a good period of time. It (change of format) can liberate you sometimes. If a guy hasn't got enough runs that he would have liked or the rhythm he would have liked, there's a chance to go back and find that. Have that clarity of thought and understanding of the game. You can never beat wickets and runs and feeling that confidence going into any big series. It's really important to take those opportunities. It's (support from the crowd) been amazing. The support we get everywhere in England, this ground in particular, is fantastic. We are so blessed to have so many brilliant fans. The players have been grateful for that and it's disappointing that we have not given them the result that they desired.

New Zealand's Player of the Series, chosen by England coach Chris Silverwood - Devon Conway: I think very special feeling to win here in England. Pretty special feeling and will take some time to sink in. It's been a good challenge and very exciting for me. Learning from Tom helped. It's a big step up and you are coming out against world class bowlers and it's about trusting your process and taking each ball as it comes. It's about trying to watch the ball and try and stay in the moment. Unfortunately I hit one straight down the throat in the second Test and I knew I got it well, probably got a little too ahead of myself and hit it too hard. Very excited for the WTC final. We are all looking forward to it.

England's Player of the Series, chosen by New Zealand coach Gary Stead - Rory Burns: Very disappointing. Personally, nice to be back in the side and to bat with some good rhythm. They have constantly tested our defence and they bowled really well. I'm just trying to stay as level as I can. Have a little bit of time off now.

Matt Henry, Player of the Match for his 6-114- Chosen by Sky Sports Presenters: What a way to finish the series. The crowd have been unbelievable, lot of Kiwi support as well. Incredible, they have come out in numbers and showed great energy. Just knowing how to go about your work and past experiences help. Wicket seemed a bit quicker and we knew it's gonna be a new ball wicket and we always wanted to put pressure and pick wickets in clusters. We had a strong squad for a long time and you just enjoy your role for the team, doesn't get much better than that.

-- Only the third series win for New Zealand against England in England. (1986, 1999 and 2021*)
-- England's 122 all-out is their lowest score against New Zealand at home.
-- This is New Zealand's first Test win in Birmingham.
-- Of the 16 Tests since 2002, this is only the third loss for England in Birmingham.

12:00 Local Time, 11:00 GMT, 16:30 IST: Phew! That was quick (ignore the couple of gifted wickets please). New Zealand nipped out the final wicket well before the completion of William Blake's Jerusalem in the Holly stands and then finished formalities with the bat in a jiffy to record their first series win in England since 1999. Incredible. Six changes, a newbie batting at three, a nine-Test old spinner, and a keeper playing his first Test in England. Not many expected the visitors to outlast the legendary bowling duo of Broad-Anderson, but New Zealand did what New England couldn't. Respect the good balls, punish the bad ones, persist with tight lines and lengths - a simple and basic mantra of Test cricket. Will Young and Devon Conway looked like they were playing their 80th Test while the bowlers backed up the batting efforts with unerring accuracy. The hosts have some serious thinking to do. Their batting techniques, selection policies, reluctance to pick a spinner will all come under fire before they lay out a blueprint for the upcoming Ashes Down Under. New Zealand, if anything, will have quite a few selection headaches ahead of the WTC final and their bowling department will be brimming with confidence come Friday. Stick around for the presentations...

Mark Wood to Latham, FOUR, Edgbaston, who? New Zealand win by 8 wickets and clinch the series 1-0. Latham gets width and he accepts it gleefully with a late dab down to the third man fence. Handshakes all around in the New Zealand dressing room. England...well..a really reluctant walk back to the pavilion if one could say that. All over!

Mark Wood to Latham, no run, back of a length outside off, left alone to the keeper

Mark Wood to Latham, FOUR, a gimme on the pads and Latham helps Wood get off his bowling mark (runs). A crisp wristy flick past square leg's right and there's enough pace on the ball to race away into the boundary cushions. Scores level

Mark Wood to Latham, no run, full and aiming for the base of off, Latham plays out a solid forward defence

Mark Wood to Latham, no run, it's infectious! Latham goes chasing after a wide delivery and gets beaten by the away movement outside off

Mark Wood, right-arm fast, comes into the attack

Ross Taylor, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Olly Stone to Will Young, out Bowled!! Something to cheer for Olly Stone. He persisted with the wider line and forced a stroke from the batsman. No feet from Young, all hands and to make matters worse, he went really hard after the ball hoping to cut it square, no dice! Catches the thick inside edge and clatters back onto the poles. Will Young b Olly Stone 8(31) [4s-1]

Olly Stone to Will Young, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Olly Stone to Will Young, no run, skiddy length delivery wide of off, nothing doing from Young

Olly Stone to Will Young, FOUR, goes wide of the crease and bowls a juicy sit-up wide of off-stump, Young gets up on his tippy toes and punches it square on the off-side. Burns gives chase and comes second....