Ben Stokes expressed relief during his press conference ahead of the third Test against New Zealand, reflecting on his favorite memories at Trent Bridge. He recalled the thrilling Ashes win in 2015 and the memorable second Test against New Zealand four years ago, which marked the birth of Bazball.

However, after the first day, New Zealand dominated the match, finishing at an impressive 361 for four. Tom Latham and Devon Conway both scored centuries, with Latham making 151 and Conway 157. Their 317-run partnership set a record for New Zealand’s opening pair in England, surpassing the previous record of 185 set by John Wright and Trevor Franklin in 1990.

The pitch conditions at Trent Bridge proved challenging for bowlers, and England’s chances of success appeared slim. Despite a few opportunities for the hosts, including a missed lbw appeal against Conway and a dropped catch by Jamie Smith off Latham, England struggled to make breakthroughs. Stokes eventually took matters into his own hands, dismissing Latham and soon after, Conway fell to Joe Root’s bowling.

As the day progressed, Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra looked to stabilize the innings, but Ravindra fell to Gus Atkinson while Jofra Archer claimed Nicholls’ wicket. New Zealand had already lost key players Matt Henry and Glenn Phillips to injury, while England made four changes to improve their squad after previous defeats.

Despite a promising start for New Zealand, England found some momentum by the day's end, leaving the match poised for an intriguing continuation. Stokes, however, faces an uphill battle to lead his team to victory against a formidable opponent.