England assistant coach admits Will O'Rourke's brilliance left them overwhelmed
- Paul Collingwood addressed England's poor performance in the third Test match against New Zealand, admitting the team was outperformed.
- Will O'Rourke's exceptional bowling led to the quick dismissal of several key England batsmen.
- Despite concerns over Zak Crawley's recent struggles, Collingwood expressed optimism about his potential to contribute significantly in future matches.
In Hamilton, New Zealand, during the third Test match, England's assistant coach Paul Collingwood faced the media following a disappointing performance by his team, which resulted in a collapse to just 143 runs. The day was dominated by New Zealand's Will O'Rourke, who delivered a remarkable spell of bowling, claiming three wickets in just eight balls, significantly impacting England's innings. Collingwood emphasized the collective disappointment of the team but praised the exceptional quality of O'Rourke's bowling, describing it as a 'hostile spell' that caught the England batsmen off guard. Collingwood expressed confidence that struggling opener Zak Crawley would soon return to form, highlighting Crawley's continued battles against bowler Matt Henry, who has dismissed him five times in five innings. Despite Crawley's recent challenges, his potential for match-winning innings remains a focal point for the team, with Collingwood insisting on their collective support for him as he works to regain his confidence and performance levels ahead of future competitions, particularly the upcoming Ashes encounter with Australia.