ENG vs NZ 3rd Test Live Commentary - Nottingham (25 June 2026)

FOUR! FANTASTIC! This cannot be a part of any plan in any format. Still, a lovely shot. A juicy full toss, outside off, Devon Conway leans and drives this beautifully through the covers. Cover dives to his left and then, extra cover dives to his right, but the ball breaches both firewalls and races to the fence behind.

Zips through the deck, full and outside off. Conway lets it be.

From around the stump, this is full and on off, angling in. Conway leans on and creams it to wide mid off.

Slightly drags the length back, does Atkinson. The line is wide outside off and Conway is not interesting to go fishing.

A lot fuller than the previous ball, around off. Devon Conway stretches forward and stabs it to the right of the man at cover for a quick single.

Back of a length with a decent lift off the deck, outside off. Latham stays put and leaves.

Full and angled on the pads, flicked hard by Conway to mid-wicket.

FOUR! As smooth as butter, has Conway played this shot and ever so smoothly, moved to 49. Back of a length, outside off, Devon Conway arches back, opens the face of his bat and guides the ball behind point for the first boundary of the afternoon.

 FIFTY FOR CONWAY! His first on this English tour. He has looked far more assured on a good batting wicket and will look to convert this into a bigger score. Good length aimed at the stumps. Conway tucks it to deep backward square leg for a single to reach his 14th Test fifty. A gentle raise of the bat and a warm hug from his skipper as well.

Fullish and around middle, Latham clips this to the leg side for a single.

Full and straight, outside off, Devon offers no shot at it.

Full again and wide outside off. Conway reaches out, slashes hard and slices it to deep backward point for a single.

Pitched fuller on off, Devon Conway punches the cover drive firmly but the fielder at short cover, makes a fine stop.

A surprise bumper, over middle and leg, Conway gets hurried while looking to pull and gets a bit of a top edge down to deep backward square leg for one.

Much fuller and around the fifth stump line, left alone by Latham.

Good-length delivery, a tad wide of the off stump, Latham makes another leave.

FOUR! Seems like Jofra Archer did not locate the ball soon enough. Short of a length over middle and leg, Tom Latham gets inside the line and hoicks it to the right of deep backward square leg. Archer is a bit late to run across to his right and the ball beats him, rolling away into the fence.

A dot to end the over and also the session, as it will be LUNCH ON DAY 1! Good-length delivery, angled well across the left-hander from over the wicket. Tom Latham takes a step to the off side and just leaves it alone.

Nagging length on off, drifting in and then holding its line. Latham keeps it out.

A bit of turn now. Floated up on off, this one grips and turns. Latham strides forward and opens the bat face to dab it towards gully for a single.

And again! Fullish length on off and middle, turning away, played with soft hands and behind point for another single.

Flatter now, pushed into the batter from outside off, Latham goes deep in the crease to defend.

Nagging length again, in and around off, doesn't turn this time. Latham blocks it out with soft hands.

Fuller, drifted in towards middle, Tom Latham covers the line well and keeps it out.

Stokes comes over the wicket now and slants across a fullish-length delivery past the off stump. Conway tucks his hands back and leaves it alone.

Back to around the wicket, full and in the channel outside off, left alone again by Conway.

Good-length delivery, a bit wider of the off stump, shoots up off the deck and carries nicely to the keeper. Conway doesn't play at it.

Back over the wicket, a bit fuller and on middle and leg. This one stays a bit low and Conway blocks it out. Stokes is doing everything he can to disrupt the rhythm of the batter.

A fourth change in angle in five deliveries by Stokes. Bowled from around the wicket, full and outside off, left alone for the keeper.

FOUR! Devon Conway brings up the 100 for New Zealand in style. A tad short and outside off, Conway rocks back and stands tall before cutting it just behind point for a boundary.

Tossed up on off and middle at a brisk pace, Conway gets halfway forward to defend.

Flatter one, on a dragged length, Conway presses back and pushes it out wide of the bowler and towards mid off for a single.

Short and outside off, Latham stays put and just cuts it to deep point for one more.

Nicely flighted, drifting in towards middle, Conway watchfully defends.

Floated up on off, nice loop on it. Devon Conway drives it along the turf to deep cover and picks up a single.

Fullish length, angled into the pads, Latham keeps it out with a straight bat.

Back of a length and in the channel, Tom Latham hangs back, lets the ball come on and glides it down through point for a couple of runs. That also brings up a 32nd Test FIFTY for the Kiwi skipper. A happy return to form for Latham, in the series decider, after a set of low scores in the first two Tests. The two openers knock their bats together before they shake hands.

Fullish length outside off, skidding through with a low bounce. Latham goes after it but is well beaten.

FOUR! Up and over, not in control. Hammered in on a shorter length and outside off, Tom Latham is caught in two minds, whether to cut or punch and ends up just getting it off the outside edge over the slip cordon for a boundary.

Dug in shorter again, around off, nudged down towards gully.

Full-pitched delivery, in the channel outside off, going straight on. Latham leaves it alone.

Similar line and length to the last ball, just angled in a bit. Latham makes another leave. New Zealand are 94/0 after 24 overs.

Well short and around off, Latham rises up with the bounce and taps it down to deep point for a single.

A loopy delivery, full and around off, asking the batter to go big. Conway does well to keep it down and hits it firmly to mid off for one more.

Drifted into middle and leg, blocked off by Latham.

Gives it a bit more air again, floating it very full on middle. Latham takes the front leg out and shovels the drive to mid on.

Shorter on off, turns away a wee bit. Latham rocks back and pushes it into the gap at cover-point for a single.

A low full toss on off stump, Conway hammers it back into the deck and straight back to the bowler. That should have been put away.

Very full delivery in the channel, Tom Latham just jams the bat down and gets it through covers for a couple of runs.

Tap and run, very proactive cricket from Latham. Good length, attacking off stump, Latham prods ahead, drops it gently into the off side and skips through for the single.

Back of a length and over off, Conway plays it with soft hands and well to the left of Jacob Bethell at gully for another quick single. This is too easy at the moment for the Kiwi openers.

Shorter now, over middle, Latham gets inside the line and just angles the pull down to long leg for another single.

FOUR! A real gift on offer, and Conway obliges with glee. Half-volley on the leg stump, Devon Conway keeps his balance and clips it firmly and well in front of square on the leg side for a boundary.

Back of a length, angled into the batter, Conway defends it off the inside edge. 9 easy runs off that over.

Very full and outside off, Devon Conway hangs back and squeezes it away firmly to the left of backward point and picks up a couple of runs in the deep.

Full again, drifting into the stumps, Conway reaches forward and toe-ends it back to the bowler.

Nicely tossed up, on off, eased away towards cover.

Full and outside off, Conway plays a flowy drive, square through the off side and picks up a single.

Nicely done by Latham. Tossed up, full on off and middle. Tom Latham punches the drive through extra cover and picks up a brace.

Easy single on offer, 6 off the over. Dragged shorter on off, Latham goes back and jams it towards cover for a run.

Lands it full from around the stump, does Stokes. Tom Latham pushes at it to drive away, but gets a thick inside edge and the ball gets squirted away to the leg side for a single.

 FOUR! Sumptuous shot! A long half-volley by Stokes, on off. Devon Conway presents full face of the bat and creams the straight drive, beating mid off to his left for a cracking boundary.

Nips in from off, on a fullish length. Conway is drawn forward to block, but ekes an inside egde on the front pad.

Straight, full, outside off. Conway ignores.

Too full on middle, Conway's eyes light up but he tries to hit it too hard and mistimes. Hits it off the inner half and forces the drive to mid on.

Hands on heads for Stokes! Bowls fuller in the channel. Conway goes hard on the cover drive, but loses shape and the inside edge is found. The ball rolls through square leg for a single. So 6 runs off Stokes' first over upon his return in the team.

With a nice flight, this is full and on off. Tom Latham watchfully keeps it out.

Very slow through the air, full on off. Latham eases it back to the bowler.

A lot quicker on a fullish length, Tom Latham drives it to the leg side in front of the square.

Full again, around off, driven off the front foot to the cover region.

Tossed up nicely, full in length, on off. Latham drives it along the carpet, beating the diving Bethell at extra cover, for a couple of runs. The sweeper ensures that he restricts them to two only.

Dropped short, on leg, Latham goes back and across and tucks it to square leg.

Full and straight, around off. Latham drives it down the ground. Bashir from mid on runs to his right and cuts it off. Just a single.

Back of a length, around leg. Devon Conway gets a bit squared up and stabs it down the surface.

Oh, this is not that short but it springs up from the pitch and nips away from the batter. Devon lets it be.

Pitched full on middle and leg, Conway is not in complete control of the shot and drags it off the inner half to short mid-wicket.

Comes from around-the-wicket-angle. Aims the pads, on a length. Devon Conway drags the bat in front and blocks it out to the off side.

A rib-tickler from Tongue. Shortish and going down leg. Conway shapes up to play the pull shot, but gets beaten. Jamie Smith collects the ball to his right. There's a muted appeal for caught behind, but nothing much.

In-dipper, full on off. Devon pushes his hands to the ball and blocks.

Loops above the eyeline, lands it full and around off. Conway drives it inside out to deep cover for a single.

Drags the length back, short on middle and leg. Latham nudges it to the square leg region for a single.

Flat and quick, a touch full, Devon Conway leans on and defends it out.

Short and outside off. Conway punches it off the back foot to point. Duckett there, dives to his left and parries the ball to Bethell at cover. One taken.

Slows it up, on a length, Latham clips it off the pads to the square leg region for an easy single.

Angles in with a hint of an away movement. Full outside off. Latham stays put and leaves.

Effort ball as Josh bends his back and bashes the length hard by angling into the bodyline. Latham rides the bounce and fences it to the off side.

Good gas! At 141 kph, with a tennis-ball bounce. Short on top of off. Latham arches back and drops the bat to leave.

Big deviation as the ball folds away from off, on a good length. Latham manages to leave it.

Fuller one, straight on off, at 136 kph. Tom Latham drives it across to mid on.

Back of a length, on off, springs up from the surface. Tom camps back and punches it through cover and point. Ben Stokes sprints all the way to the deep and manages to stop it before the ropes. Two taken.

Flat at 88 kph, outside off and short. Devon Conway hangs back and cuts it to backward point.

Gives a lot of flight on this one and drops it around off, on a length. Conway lets the ball turn and dip and punches it off the back foot to cover.

Pitched full and it goes off with the arm, on off. Conway pushes it to short cover.

Hangs up there, full on middle. Devon Conway lunges forward and taps it to the right of the bowler.

A bit of turn and bounce. Full around off. Conway drives it to the off side, albeit off the toe end.

Round-armish, full on the pads. Devon Conway blocks it out safely. A maiden over from Bashir.

Shorter in length, just outside off, Latham gets on his toes, rides the bounce well and punches it down to the right of point, where the fielder makes a sharp stop.

Back of a length, around middle and leg, tucked away towards mid-wicket, where again, the ball is well stopped by an English fielder.

A bit of a wild delivery, but the keeper does well. Fuller one, lands outside the line of the leg stump and keeps going further away. Jamie Smith dives to his right and pouches it well.

Good length, targeting the top of off, Latham defends it right under the eyes.

A bit of yes and no from the Kiwi skipper, but he makes the right call in the end. Full and straight, clipped away to the left of mid on. LKatham calls for the single before quickly yelling 'No, no, no' as he sees the fielder attacking the ball well. Devon Conway does well to quickly turn back as well.

Short of a good length, angled in from around off. Latham plays all around it and gets hit on the thigh pad. Another maiden for Josh Tongue.

Length ball, in line with the stumps, Latham leans ahead and blocks it off.

Floated up, on a fullish length, this one stops on the batter and turns away a bit. Latham waits well and taps it through cover-point for a single.

Just short of a full length, slides on with the arms, and towards the stumps, Conway keeps it out.

Tossed up on off, Conway plays the straight drive, but Bashir makes a good stop down to his right in the follow-through.

Flighted up, very full and just outside off, Conway slices the drive behind point and picks up a couple of handy runs.

Fullish length on off, Conway presses half-forward and pushes it out in front of point.

Pitched up on a fuller length, sliding in towards middle. Conway clips it across to mid-wicket.

Good-length delivery on middle, straightens a bit as well. Conway stays back and defends it with a straight bat.

On the shorter side now, angled into the hips, Conway fails to get it away and wears it on the body.

Immaculate length again, just a touch fuller than a good length and around off. Conway leans on to defend but gets it off the inside half of the bat towards the on side.

Pushed a few inches fuller, on middle and leg, looking to swing it away. Conway gets his hands out in front and blocks it to mid on.

Much better over from Tongue, a maiden, in fact. Good length, in the channel, played with soft hands towards point.

A loopy delivery to begin with. Full and outside off, stroked away to sweeper cover for a single.

Dragged length, flatter and on off and middle, Conway rocks back and pushes it back to the bowler.

Nicely lobbed up, full and on leg, Conway drives it out to mid on.

Oh, not far away! Floated up on a fullish length, not quite there to drive and this one grips a bit as well. Devon Conway pushes at it and ends up playing it uppishly to the right of short extra cover. Joe Root springs to his right but the ball just caresses the fingertip and goes behind for a single.

FOUR! Down the wrong line from Bashir. Full and angled down leg, Tom Latham sits down nice and early, sweeping it down through the fine leg region for a boundary. 50 comes up for New Zealand!

Flighted delivery around middle, Latham lunges to defend.

FOUR! A leg-stump half-volley, looking for some swing first up, but it is a freebie. Tom Latham clips it away well in front of square on the leg side and the ball trickles away into the fence.

Tongue stays around the wicket and attacks the middle stump, bowling it on a three-quarter length. Latham presses back to defend.

FOUR! Too full and a bit too straight away from Tongue. Tom Latham clips it aerially and in front of mid-wicket for another boundary. Easy pickings for the Kiwi skipper.

Josh drags the length back but slides it into the pads once again. Latham misses the flick and the ball goes off the thigh pad and down towards leg gully. They get a leg bye.

Full and slipped down the leg side, Conway fails to flick it away and the ball goes through to the keeper.

Much better from Tongue to end the over. That in-between length, sliding it into the middle stump, Conway is a bit late on it and stabs it out onto the deck. New Zealand are 45/0 after 10 overs, a very positive start on a good pitch for batting.

A full ball on off, shaping away, Tom Latham leans on and drives it well, but straight to mid off.

Dug in shorter and outside off, Latham gets up on his toes and just guides it down behind point and picks up three comfortable runs.

Nice and full, just slanted across the off stump, Conway leans ahead and makes an assured leave.

Oh, good carry! On a good length on off, just shapes back in but at nearly chest height and Conway does well to leave this one alone.

FOUR! Oh, that could have easily gone to hand. Fullish length outside off, not quite full enough but Devon Conway is sucked into driving at it. Conway ends up jarring at it and gets it a tad uppishly and wide of gully for a boundary.

Good-length delivery, angled across the left-hander. Left alone by Conway.

A bit shorter, right around the rib cage. Devon Conway hops and dabs it down towards square leg.

Pitching outside leg, but swings across, towards the pads. Conway clips it to deep square leg and turns the strike over.

On a good length, bowled from around the stumps, and outside off. Latham shoulders arms. So far, Archer is bowling in the mid 130 clicks in this over.

Excellent running. Full-pitched delivery on off, Tom Latham pushes it out to the right of short cover and pinches a quick single. Also, Archer seems to have overstepped here. No Ball called.

Shortish length again, around the hips and swinging across. Conway nudges it down into the leg side.

Pitched fuller on middle, at 133 kph and angling it across the off stump. Conway leaves it alone.

Archer comes around the wicket to Conway for the last ball and gets the ball to swing back in from outside off. Devon Conway leaves it on line and the ball carries through to the keeper nicely.

A bit fuller and around off, Conway hangs back and bunts it down the pitch.

From over the stump. This is bashed on a length, just outside off. Conway fends it to the off side with soft hands.

Angles away from the southpaw, on a good length. Conway watchfully leaves it alone.

A lot fuller, on off. Conway punches it back to the bowler. Atkinson dives on the follow-through and dives to his right and makes a one-handed stop.

 Beaten! Beautiful line and length. Bowls it full and across off. Lifts and nips after landing on the seam. Devon Conway looks to block, but the ball keeps leaving him and zips past the outside edge.

Full ball around the off pole. Devon Conway pushes it to the extra cover region and they hustle for a quick single.

Short and deviating away off the seam. Latham drags the bat inside the line just in time to leave as the ball flies back to the keeper.

A bit wayward. Short of a length, down leg. Latham plays and misses to flick. Jamie dives to his right behind the wickets and gathers it.

 FOUR! Off the edge. The third slip was removed just before this ball and it goes through that very region. Full and outside off, nipping away from the batter. Latham goes at it with hard hands and gets a thick outside edge. The ball flies to the left of Harry Brook at second slip and stays out of his reach as it races away.

Nagging length, around off, Latham drops it to the point region and after a bit of yes-no-yes-no, Latham retreats in time.

Good length ball, outside off, Latham leaves. Good carry through to the keeper.

In-between length, outside off, Latham stays put and leaves the harmless delivery.

From around the stump. A tad full and sliding down leg. Tom Latham looks to whip it to the leg side but misses and the ball thuds the front pad.

On a good length, pushed on the leg stump. Tom Latham cannot connect to tickle it fine on the leg side and the ball thuds the front thigh pad. Goes on the bounce to Emilio Gay at leg slip.

Excellent running, fantastic fielding. Good cricket overall. Back of a length, on the pads. Tom Latham clips it off the back foot to deep square leg. Jofra Archer runs almost a mile to his right from deep fine leg and manages to flick the ball in the playing area. Shoaib Bashir, converging from mid-wicket collects it and throws it to the keeper. Three taken.

 FOUR! Races away! Fuller from Gus, around off. Conway leans on it and thrashes it through cover-point to pick up another boundary. Conway is looking in a good touch.

A bit of an away shape, full on off, Devon Conway prods forward and blocks it out.

Better length. Short and on top of off with a good bit of bounce. Conway lifts the bat in the air to make the leave.

Slides far down leg from around the stumps. Tom Latham leaves and Jamie Smith dives full length to his right to gather it safely.

Attacks the pads on a fullish length. Latham looks to flick but misses and the ball rolls off the front pad to square leg. They pinch in a leg bye.

Bouncy length ball, around off. Conway lets it pass.

Slightly fuller and just outside off. Conway offers no shot.

 FOUR! Absolutely creamed through the gap! Moves away, full and outside off. Conway frees his arms, hits through the line. Has to stretch a bit more due to the movement. Bends the knee a bit and drives it magnificently to the deep cover region for a boundary.

Angled on the pads, on a good length. Conway walks across to flick but is beaten on the inside edge and the ball strikes the front pad.

Jags back in from off, Devon Conway gets behind the line, stays deep in the crease and blocks the full ball to the off side.

This one spits up from the deck, just outside off, on a good length. Conway manages to withdraw his bat inside the line to leave.

Similar line and length, on top of off. Devon Conway trusts the bounce and leaves it as the ball zips over the off pole.

Full and outside off, cutting in a long way. Conway gets on the front foot and blocks it off the inside half of the bat to short mid-wicket.

Another full ball on middle, keeps coming in. Conway is not fully in control of the shot and forces it to short mid-wicket.

 FOUR! A beautiful shot from Conway. Long half-volley, around off. Devon Conway leans on the ball and creams it through the cover and point gap for the first boundary of the third Test. Played right out of the middle of the bat.

Oh, a bit of a movement! Swings away late from off, full in length. Tom is a bit late to leave and the ball goes off the toe end and rolls to gully.

Fuller in length, angled in and around off. Latham forces the drive to the right of mid on. Bashir dives and makes a half-stop there, parrying the ball to the deep. Two taken.

Short of a good length, shaping away with some bounce. Tom Latham stands up on his toes and steers it past the diving gully fielder. Jacob Bethell dives to his left but the ball stays out of his reach and the batters cross twice.

Angles in and then moves away from off, on a fuller length. Latham closely watches the ball and offers no shot.

Slants it on off, full, Tom Latham alertly blocks it back to the bowler.

Massive deviation on this one. Slightly fuller, wide outside off. It lands and folds away sharply as Latham leaves it alone.

On a tight line, length ball that angles in. Latham gets inside the line and blocks it away.

Slants it onto the pads, good length. Latham tries to nudge it behind square on the leg side. Misses and the ball deflects off the thigh pad to backward square leg.

Latham and New Zealand are off the mark! Back of a length, at 138 kph, angled in from middle to leg. Tom Latham hangs back and steers it to deep backward square leg for a single to open his account.

Nips in a touch, full on off. Devon gets on the front foot and awkwardly defends it down the pitch.

Hard length, on top of middle. Conway's bottom hand is off the handle as he tries to deal with the extra bounce and the ball jagging back in. The ball beats the inside edge and hits around his stomach.

A big appeal for LBW, but the finger stays down. Height maybe. No interest from Atkinson as he walks back. Another length ball that sneaks past Conway's inside edge and raps him high on the pads. Ball Tracking later confirms that it is going over the stumps.