New Zealand Secures First Home ODI Series Win Over England Since 2008 With 2-0 Lead

England's ODI cricket team suffered a comprehensive 2-0 series defeat against New Zealand, marking their sixth ODI series loss in seven attempts. Captain Harry Brook expressed frustration and confusion over the team's persistent batting struggles, particularly after being bowled out for 175 in the second ODI, and dismissed pitch conditions and losing tosses as excuses. Despite Brook's impressive 135 in the first match, England's top order repeatedly collapsed, with the team failing to reach 250 in innings where Joe Root did not score a half-century. New Zealand's disciplined bowling, led by Blair Tickner's career-best figures, overwhelmed England on a good batting surface. The aggressive batting approach England employs has backfired, with matches often resulting in either very high scores or early collapses, highlighting inconsistency ahead of important upcoming tournaments like the Ashes and the 2027 World Cup. England's poor ODI performance also puts their World Cup qualification at risk, intensifying the need for urgent improvements.