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Abject England end Stokes era with rare home series defeat by New Zealand
New Zealand beat England by 160 runs to win series 2-1
TL;DR
- New Zealand defeated England by 160 runs to win the Test series 2-1.
- The series loss marks England's worst home result in 14 years.
- Ben Stokes has retired from Test cricket, signaling the end of an era.
- Key moments in the final match included direct-hit run-outs by Henry Nicholls and Mitchell Santner, and a catch by Nathan Smith.
- Daryl Mitchell was named player of the match for his unbeaten century.
- England's leadership, including head coach Brendon McCullum and team director Rob Key, faces uncertainty.
- Harry Brook is suggested as a potential successor to Stokes as captain.
- The team must address the significant gap left by Stokes's all-round abilities.