England vs New Zealand: Bairstow and Root blow away New Zealand, complete 3-0 whitewash
England chased down the target of 296 in the 4th innings with ease to thrash New Zealand in the third and final test of the series. Jonny Bairstow was once again in imperious form as he blasted the Kiwi bowlers all over the ground and scored 71 off just 44 balls. Joe Root provided good support to Bairstow as he top-scored the innings with 86.
The hosts took just 93 balls on the last day to get the remaining 113 runs as they continued their aggressive brand of cricket with the bat. Rain delayed the start of proceedings and the entire first session was lost. As the skies cleared up and play was ready to start, England wasted no time to get going.
Ollie Pope, the overnight batsman, only scored one more run to reach 82 before Tim Southee was able to pull one back in sharply to remove him. But that was as good as it got for the New Zealanders, who once again couldn't find an answer to Jonny Bairstow's assault.
Bairstow, who had scores of 1, 16 and 8 in the first three innings of the series, has been a batsman reborn under Stokes and McCullum. Carrying on from his first innings heroics, he immediately scored two boundaries in the 2nd over of the day off Trent Boult. Root scored two fours as well in the same over, which went for 17 and brought the target to double digits.
With 66 runs to defend, Kane Williamson returned to his spinner, Michael Bracewell, who conceded 70 runs in 11 overs on day four, and Bairstow greeted him with a sweep for four through square leg. Bairstow brought up his half-century in just 30 balls - the second fastest by an Englishman in test cricket.
With Bairstow blazing along in T20 mode, Root continued at his own pace, providing good support to Bairstow. Root was on 56 when Bairstow came into the crease but the former England skipper couldn't complete his hundred as Bairstow hit a four and a six off Bracewell to win the Test match.
Skipper Ben Stokes, whose services weren't even needed in the end, was full of praise for Bairstow, who finished the series with 369 runs.
"That's something he's been able to do in white-ball cricket and he's playing as if he's got the colours on. For him to back up an amazing knock at Trent Bridge with a performance in both innings this week was something very special," said Stokes.
Stokes said that the series clearly communicated to players how the team management expects them to approach the game and how that can influence their selection process going forward.
"I knew that everyone would buy into this mentality that me and Brendon wanted out of this team but I didn't think it would go this well. I think these last three games should have sent a message to people who aspire to play Test cricket for England over the next two or three years at least.
"I would say it's the manner you play, whether that be with the ball or bat in your hand, not necessarily your stats. Because what we want to do is build on this, and it's not just about this moment, it's about the future as well."