England's cricketers had an extra rest day on Monday after completing their first series whitewash over New Zealand for 26 years at Trent Bridge.

The 3-0 win was all the more impressive as England had to win each Test batting last.

The run chases at Trent Bridge (284) and Lord's (282) were the fourth and fifth highest targets reached by a side batting last in Tests in England.

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The batting line-up easily coped with the retirement of former captain Nasser Hussain after his match-winning century in the first Test at Lord's.

Andrew Strauss demonstrated with a ton on his debut in the same match that he has the technique and temperament for Test cricket and Michael Vaughan began to look comfortable batting at four with his 61 in the first innings at Trent Bridge.

Add to that Marcus Trescothick's return to form and Andrew Flintoff maturing into a proper number six who can play sensibly as well as aggressively, the batting unit looks solid.

Wicketkeeper Geraint Jones's ability with the bat clearly shows his worth over Chris Read, even if Read is superior with the gloves. Ashley Giles's usefulness at number eight also overrides misgivings about his inconsistent spin bowling.

However, the four-wicket victory in the third Test was the least comfortable of the series, with the result in the balance until the last hour of play.

Chris Cairns, in his 62nd and final Test, took nine wickets in the match and nearly made it 10 to swing the game New Zealand's way late on.

If the former Nottinghamshire all rounder had clung on to a caught-and-bowled chance off Giles, New Zealand would have been into England's tail and could have grabbed the consolation victory their damaged confidence needed.

INJURY PROBLEMS

The injury problems which blighted their tour were a distinct factor in letting England off the hook whenever the Kiwi bowlers had a chance of pressing any advantage.

At Trent Bridge, New Zealand were reduced to giving the new ball to the impressive left-armer James Franklin, who had even not been picked to tour.

He had come over to England on his own initiative to play club cricket in case of injuries in the Test squad.

It turned out to be an excellent decision as first Shane Bond, New Zealand's most potent pace bowler, was unable to play in the series because of a long-standing back problem.

The wisdom of the Kiwi selectors in taking a man on tour who was yet to prove his fitness proved fatal as injuries to Jacob Oram, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills and the only spinner in the squad, Daniel Vettori, followed.

Seamer Daryl Tuffey, struggling for match fitness, was also dropped for Trent Bridge.

What New Zealand would have given for a pace bowler like England's Steve Harmison, who has rocketed up the world rankings to stand at number two behind spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, statistically making him the best fast bowler in the game.

Harmison has learnt to pitch the ball up and has also curbed his wayward deliveries to become as important to England as Darren Gough in his prime.

Without Harmison's 21 wickets, a whitewash would have been impossible.