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Thanks for your company over the past four days. It's been a thoroughly entertaining Test match with plenty of talking points.

Scroll down to read all the reaction to England's eight-wicket victory and post-match interviews from layer of the match Brydon Carse, England captain Ben Stokes and New Zealand counterpart Tom Latham.

"Brydon Carse and debutant Jacob Bethell led England to an impressive eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first Test in Christchurch," is the verdict of Stephan Shemilt.

Make sure to check out his match report from the the Hagley Oval.

There is live cricket going on right now for you to follow as Melbourne Renegades take on Brisbane Heat in the WBBL final at the MCG.

We have ball-by-ball radio coverage via ABC Grandstand on that one.

England's men are in action again on Thursday in the second Test when the action switches to the Basin Reserve in Wellington so make sure to join us for that one, too.

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A few final thoughts from England captain Ben Stokes...

On Brydon Carse: "I've been fortunate enough to grow up with Brydon [Carse] in my Durham days and I've always known his potential and his talent.

"So to see him come into this team and make an impact so early on is amazing. He's an absolute workhorse and he'll keep charging in all day regardless of whether conditions are in his favour or not.

"To see him get his rewards, walking off with six-for and 10 in the game is amazing."

On Jacob Bethell: "Really good. Chasing those little targets can sometimes be a bit difficult but I know everyone would know how we were going to come out and take it on.

"Beth grew into his own in that period there. The quicker we could get them, the smaller the target seems.

"He's played like that all summer in the white-ball team so it was nice to see him do it in whites."

On his own form with the bat: "It was good. Batting slightly down the order but with Gus and Carsey coming in and batting like that, I was giving them the strike and thinking 'I should be doing that role!'

"But we found ourselves in a tricky place and I just tried to build a partnership with Brooky to make sure we got up to a good total.

"Having a long batting order like we do in this Test was pretty valuable here because it got us up to a good score."

New Zealand captain Tom Latham: "Isolate the first two innings, that sort of surface, the position we were in, I was happy. We had our opportunities, on another day the catches go to hand and it would've been slightly different. That’s the sport we play."

On their fielding: "I think some days it doesn’t fall your way. From our point of view, guys aren't meaning to drop them, they are trying. Some days they catch them, other days it drops, that's the game of cricket."

On England's partnerships: "You always want more, the partnerships that England were able to build were great. If you’re able to extend them, that’s always great. We had our moments where things could’ve been slightly different. When we play England, they’ve got high-quality players that put you under pressure."

On the team: "For us, everyone is trying to contribute the best they can and applying their role. They’re all trying hard to produce runs and to improve our bowling. From our point of view, the next couple of days we'll be working hard ahead of Wellington."

On improvements ahead of Wellington: "From our point of view, it's always trying to stay level and playing the best you can. Things haven’t gone our way, we’ve got another opportunity in next couple of days, we’ll work on what we need to work on and we look forward to that opportunity."

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Mr M Stoney: Such an unnecessary injury to Ben Stokes. Didn’t have to bowl himself. Wasn’t as if it was near the end of the day and the other bowlers had been ground into the dust. Very poor decision.

More from Ben Stokes on his injury: "I've not spent that much time out in the middle for a long time...

"No, it's been a pretty heavy time in the field this week. I bowled 20 overs and spent some time out in the middle as well.

"I hurt my back diving for a ball as well so it was more management that anything else. Where we were in the game, it didn't feel necessary to eek out any more balls than I needed to.

"I think the body is going to be good for this outing and ready to go in Wellington."

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England captain Ben Stokes: "Very good. Very happy with the way that we pulled up the whole week.

"We got put under pressure on day two, we were 40-3 so to be able to go on and put up a big first-innings score and a pretty likeable lead was nice.

"Then I thought our bowlers were pretty relentless for the whole match. Very good start."

On Harry Brook: "You need a little bit of luck along the way but you've got to make those innings count.

"If the opposition are dropping catches then you do want to go on and make a big score.

"Brooky always seems to find the funny side of everything. He's an incredible player, an incredible talent and to have someone of his ability in our middle order is outstanding.

"He's constantly able to put pressure on the opposition, regardless of the position we find ourselves in. That's what seems to get the best out of him.

"He's going from strength to strength as a player."

Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond on TNT Sports: "The Test match was set up beautifully but those dropped caches took it away from New Zealand. There's nothing else to cover off. If they had taken them the game would have been much closer. Harry Brook made New Zealand pay."

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Player of the match, England bowler Brydon Carse: "Very proud of the outcome today, to be able to win as a team is very satisfying.

"We were thrown different challenges throughout the game but, as a group, we stuck to certain plans and got our reward during the game.

"Everyone contributed in different ways, different fields that we were setting and conversations with Ben Stokes throughout both innings. Everything paid off towards the end."

Difference to pitches in Pakistan: "The surfaces in Pakistan were obviously very different to this. A lot more carry and bounce here which suited my style of bowling more.

"Very happy with my personal performance."

On his batting: "Myself and Gus [Atkinson] have got a good relationship off the field and we had a good conversation about the batting last night. I said I just edged him with the sixes!"

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Things might have been wrapped up on the field in Christchurch but we have the presentations and plenty of reaction still to come.

However, if you want some more live cricket you do not have to wait long.

We have ball-by-ball radio commentary from our colleagues at ABC Grandstand of the Women's Big Bash League final between Melbourne Renegades and Brisbane Heat.

You can follow that from 02:20 GMT.

Ashwanth R Kavuluri
Cricviz analyst

England chased 104 runs at 8.21 runs per over, their best for a 100+ run chase in Test history.

Their next best run-rate while chasing 100+ was 6.16 vs Pakistan in Birmingham in 1987.

David Gower
Ex-England captain on TNT Sports

Jacob Bethell in his first Test match has the honour and pleasure of hitting the winning runs. He will have enjoyed that immensely.

England win by eight wicketspublished at 01:50 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2024

01:50 GMT 1 December 2024

That single for Jacob Bethell seals victory for England, as well. They go 1-0 up in the three-match series.

Fifty for Bethellpublished at 12.4 overs

12.4 overs

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Jacob Bethell swivels and hits Nathan Smith into the leg side to bring up his maiden Test half-century off 37 balls.

Jacob Bethell slaps one down to third and picks up a couple of runs to move on to 49.

Scores are level.

Ashwanth R Kavuluri
Cricviz analyst

England here are scoring at almost 8 runs per over in this chase. This will be the highest run-rate for a 100+ chase in England's Test history.

Eng 101-2published at 12.1 overs

12.1 overs

Possibly the shortest drinks break in history concludes. Nathan Smith continues and his first ball is short and emphatically hooked towards the back of the grass banking for six by Jacob Bethell.

The England batter is 47 not out.

England require nine runs to win but on a warm day at the Hagley Oval we have the scheduled break for drinks anyway.

Eng 95-2published at 11.3 overs

11.3 overs

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Not if Joe Root keeps doing this, mind. He swivels and helps a short-ish ball from Will O'Rourke round the corner and on to the grass banking for six.

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Jacob Bethell has 40 from 32 balls here, by the way. A maiden Test half-century could be possible if he's able to hog the strike.

The umpires have a quick word with Jacob Bethell and ask him to remove something attached to his wrist. A fitness watch or something of that description, perhaps.

New Zealand persist with a short-ball strategy but Joe Root and Bethell play it in a controlled manner.