ENG vs NZ | Daryl Mitchell joins Brian Lara for a rare Test feat post 3-0 drubbing

Hosts England chased down another 250+ total to complete a 3-0 series win against New Zealand. The Ben Stokes-led side scored the remainder of the 113 runs they required on Day 5, with the help of Joe Root’s gutsy 86* and Jonny Bairstow’s 44-ball 71*.

With New Zealand’s latest defeat at Leeds, Daryl Mitchell’s first-innings ton and second-innings half-century were tendered as efforts in vain by the hosts. However, the cricketer was still adjudged as New Zealand’s ‘Player of the Series' for scoring 538 runs across six innings at a Bradman-Esque average of 107.60.

The Kiwi cricketer was in sublime form throughout the series as he scored three tons in succession. He slammed 190 in the second Test match, thus missing a well-deserved double ton. As it turned out, he scored 142 runs more than the second highest run-aggregator of the series, Joe Root, with 396 runs.

Mitchell has joined former West Indies captain and an all-time batting legend, Brian Lara, for a rare batting record in Test cricket.

Daryl Mitchell joins Brian Lara post-run-fest in England.

As mentioned earlier, the 31-year-old New Zealand batter scored his runs at an average of 107.60. Back in 2001, legendary West Indies batsman Brian Lara plundered 688 runs in three Tests on his country’s trip to Sri Lanka. However, much like Mitchell’s New Zealand, the then West Indies unit also suffered a 0-3 defeat to their hosts.

Both Mitchell and Lara are now the only two cricketers in Test history to hold an average of more than 100 in a Test series (minimum three matches) where their team got whitewashed.

The New Zealand batting stalwart is currently averaging 62.73 with the bat in Tests, and three of his four career tons have come against England in the recently-concluded series.

New Zealand to play white-ball games in Ireland, Scotland

New Zealand’s European tour will continue with trips to Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. The Black Caps will play a total of four ODIs and seven T20I matches throughout the three tours between July 10 and August 6.