England wrapped up their 2024 with a heavy defeat by New Zealand in Hamilton, but finished, ultimately, on a high, with a 2-1 series win overall. The year started with a hammering in India, before home wins over West Indies and Sri Lanka. Ben Stokes' side then lost in Pakistan, before wrapping things up with victory over New Zealand.
![[There were a number of successes in the year, with Gus Atkinson achieving the full house]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/14/93235965-14201323-image-m-63_1734446800760.jpg)
It was a year of transition for England, on the back firstly of Stuart Broad's retirement last year and then James Anderson's departure in the summer. Stokes has been tasked with building a team to compete in the Ashes, which are now a year away. There have been some successes and some failures, breakout stars, and players still waiting to see if they can make it. But Stokes, as ever, has fully backed his players as much as he can.
![[Brydon Carse looks to have formed a good partnership with Atkinson - the find of the year]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/11/93229259-0-image-m-40_1734436136667.jpg)
2025 will bring a one-off Test against Zimbabwe, before England host India in the summer. Then, they will head down under. Mail Sport's LAWRENCE BOOTH provides three hits and three misses from England's topsy-turvy year. England capped off a topsy-turvy 2025 with defeat - but beat New Zealand 2-1 overall.
![[Jamie Smith ended the wicketkeeping debate for the foreseeable with a polished performance both sides of the stumps]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/11/93229245-0-image-a-39_1734436135053.jpg)
There were a number of successes in the year, with Gus Atkinson achieving the full house. Brydon Carse looks to have formed a good partnership with Atkinson - the find of the year. Gus Atkinson. Achieved a full house in his first year: 12 wickets on debut, a century from No 8 and a hat-trick. Now he just has to find a way of keeping his pace up.
![[Zak Crawley's series average of 8.66 against New Zealand was an all-time England low]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/17/11/93229283-0-image-a-41_1734436211513.jpg)
