Final result
England won by 323 runs
Player of the match: HC Brook
Result · Test Cricket
England vs New Zealand Cricket
Result · Test Cricket
Venue par · 231Chase success · 49%POTM · HC Brook
Match preview & overview
England win by 323 runs at Wellington as Brook takes player of the match
England beat New Zealand by 323 runs at Basin Reserve, Wellington on 6 December 2024, with Harry Brook named player of the match. England posted 280 in the first innings before bowling New Zealand out for 125, a deficit of 155. Their third-innings declaration at 427/6 set New Zealand 583 to win. The hosts were dismissed for 259, leaving England with a comprehensive margin that reflects their control across all four innings. New Zealand chose to field after winning the toss, an orthodox call at a ground where 69% of toss winners make that decision, but England's batters ensured the move did not pay off.
The scale of the victory is put in perspective by the ground's averages. Basin Reserve's average first-innings score across 79 Tests is 231. England exceeded that in both of their innings, posting totals that put pressure on a New Zealand side already struggling for form after three defeats to Sri Lanka earlier in 2024. Brook's player of the match award capped a strong individual performance and continued a productive run in Test cricket for England through the year.
Pitch report & venue insights
Basin Reserve, Wellington — 79-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2003–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
79
T20 matches hosted
231
Avg 1st-innings score
210
Avg 2nd-innings score
49%
Chase success rate
33
Avg powerplay runs
65%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
England's 323-run margin dwarfs Basin Reserve norms
The Basin Reserve's average first-innings score across 79 Tests is just 231. England posted 280 in the first innings and then 427/6 in the third, making the match's aggregate telling. New Zealand's combined 384 runs across both innings was never going to be enough.
Angle 02
New Zealand chose to field first and paid heavily
Angle 03
Brook named player of the match
Angle 04
England's 2024 form shows consistent results in the format
Angle 05
New Zealand's recent form a concern ahead of this result
Key players
Players who decided it
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top England batter markets may attract interest given the form of their middle order across both innings at Wellington.
- Basin Reserve's 49% chase success rate suggests first-innings runs carry high value; innings-based markets could be more informative than outright result lines.
- New Zealand's recent run of defeats across formats may be reflected in match result markets for future fixtures in this series.
- Player of the match markets are worth considering in the context of form: Brook's award here is consistent with his recent output in Test cricket.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about England vs New Zealand Cricket
What was the result of the England vs New Zealand Test in Wellington in December 2024?
England beat New Zealand by 323 runs at Basin Reserve, Wellington. England posted 280 in the first innings and 427/6 in the third, while New Zealand were bowled out for 125 and 259 in their two innings. Harry Brook was named player of the match.
Who won the toss in the Wellington Test between England and New Zealand?
New Zealand won the toss and elected to field first. That is consistent with the ground's historical pattern: the toss-winning side has chosen to field in 69% of Tests at Basin Reserve across 79 matches.
Who was player of the match in the England vs New Zealand Wellington Test?
Harry Brook (HC Brook) was awarded player of the match. He contributed to England's batting across the match, which helped set New Zealand a fourth-innings target of 583.
What is the head-to-head record between England and New Zealand in Tests?
Across all formats, England lead the overall head-to-head with 49 wins from 104 meetings against New Zealand's 41 wins, with 11 matches ending without a result. New Zealand had won three of the five most recent meetings before this fixture.
Where can I watch England vs New Zealand Test cricket in the UK?
Test matches between England and New Zealand are typically broadcast on Sky Sports Cricket in the UK, with streaming available via Sky Go and NOW TV. BBC Radio Test Match Special also provides ball-by-ball radio commentary for England Test matches.
What are the typical conditions at Basin Reserve, Wellington?
Basin Reserve has hosted 79 Test matches, with an average first-innings score of 231. The chase success rate sits at 49%, making the ground roughly even for batting and bowling sides across four-innings contests. The toss-winning side fields first 69% of the time, suggesting early conditions tend to favour the bowlers.
Photo credits (2)
- Kane Williamson — photo by Mark Lockett, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
- Trent Boult — photo by YellowMonkey/Blnguyen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source