ENG vs NZ | Jonny Bairstow-triggered Test thriller surpasses 18-year-old AUS-IND record

England, heralded under new coach Brendon McCullum, pipped New Zealand by five wickets in a dramatic final-hour thriller at Nottingham. Jonny Bairstow and captain Ben Stokes scored runs at a breakneck pace, thus triggering an incredible run-chase during the twilight stages of the match.

In Bairstow’s hot-headed quest for an unlikely win, he belted 136 off just 92 balls and unleashed a furious onslaught of a six-hitting display. Meanwhile, tearaway batter Stokes punched out a 70-ball 75* and delivered the knockout blow to the tourists with back-to-back boundaries off prime pacer Trent Boult.

As carnage ensued at Trent Bridge, several records were broken in the Test thriller, including milestones for match-aggregate and runs in boundaries. Here is a look at some of the combined team records broken or drafted during England’s 2-0 series-clinching victory.

The England versus New Zealand second Test match had over 1,000 runs scored in boundaries alone. A total of 226 fours and 24 sixes were struck during the entirety of the game, including 12 maximums on Day 5. The boundary aggregate of 1,048 runs bettered the previous record held by the 2004 SCG Test match between Australia and the touring Indian party.

The 2004 high-scoring encounter featured 976 runs in boundaries, and the match itself is notable for Sachin Tendulkar’s 241*, his highest at the time.

A total of 1,675 runs were aggregated across all four innings of the second England versus New Zealand Test. The aforementioned tally is now the highest combined total in a five-day Test match without any declaration. Interestingly, these two sides drafted the previous highest of 1,610 runs back in Lord’s 2015.

Also, the Nottingham match aggregate is now the most runs scored in any World Test Championship match (regardless of any declaration). The previous highest was 1,447 runs scored by India and South Africa in Vizag in 2019. All time record belongs to a South Africa vs England Test back in 1939, featuring 1,981 runs.

Records aside hosts England will now face New Zealand in the final Test of the series at Headingley, Leeds. The match will be played between June 23 and 27.