England vs. New Zealand: Best XI from ODI Series
England buried the memory of their miserable campaign at the Cricket World Cup with a thrilling series victory over New Zealand on home soil.
Victory in the fifth ODI meant England clinched their first series triumph on home soil since the summer of 2012.
Eoin Morgan's young side fought back from 2-1 down to win, beating the Black Caps in a deciding match at Durham.
The teams combined for a stunning total of 3,151 runs, a new record for a five-match one-day series, per Sky Sports.
Here we've picked a combined XI. But, before we name the team, a little recognition for a few players who didn't make the final cut.
Honourable Mentions
No player can feel more aggrieved at missing out on selection than Joe Root.
The Yorkshireman made the most of his promotion up to three in the batting order, scoring two centuries as he amassed 274 runs at an average of 68.50.
However, Root's excellent numbers were still not enough to get him a spot in the top five, proving that it was a series where bat dominated ball.
As for the New Zealanders who made a mark over the last few weeks, Grant Elliott scored 151 runs in the middle order at an average of 37.75.
Mitchell Santner had moments of success in his first taste of international cricket, making contributions with bat and ball.
His left-arm spin claimed seven wickets at 32.85, as he was given the tough task of replacing the retired Daniel Vettori.
1. Martin Guptill (New Zealand)
Runs in the series: 194
Average: 38.80
Martin Guptill had a solid, if unspectacular, series at the top of the New Zealand order.
He made three half-centuries in five knocks but had a top score of 67. The right-hander built excellent foundations but never kicked on to make a big score.
However, Guptill was still one of the two best options at the top of the order.
He certainly had a far better series than his skipper, Brendon McCullum, who made just 101 runs.
2. Alex Hales (England)
Runs in the series: 165
Average: 33.00
England's opening pair had a similar series to their New Zealand counterparts.
While Surrey's Jason Roy failed to fire, Alex Hales made two half-centuries (and scored his runs at a strike-rate of 125.95) in the series without managing to kick on and reach three figures.
The Nottinghamshire right-hander helped set up the home side's record run chase at Trent Bridge in the fourth ODI, smashing 67 in a hurry as England chased down a target of 350.
He looked much more comfortable in an England side free to express themselves, having looked a little inhibited in his previous appearances in 50-over cricket.
3. Kane Williamson (New Zealand)
Runs in the series: 396
Average: 79.20
Kane Williamson was the leading run-scorer in the series overall—his lowest score in five knocks was the 45 he made in the opening match in Birmingham.
He followed that up with scores of 93, 118, 90 and 50. His fine run of form meant he became the first batsman in world cricket to reach 1,000 ODI runs for the calendar year.
Williamson's century in the third match was the foundation for a New Zealand victory that gave them a 2-1 series lead.
The right-hander proves that a classical batsman can still prosper in the 50-over arena—he scored his runs at a strike-rate of 104.48.
4. Ross Taylor (New Zealand)
Runs in the series: 375
Average: 93.75
Ross Taylor scored back-to-back centuries for the tourists, with both of his three-figure knocks coming in victories for his team.
The right-hander made 119 not out as New Zealand won a ridiculously high-scoring affair at the Oval. He then followed it up with 110 at the Ageas Bowl to lead his team's successful run chase.
Taylor's lowest score in the series was 42, as he managed to quickly turn around his form after a disappointing Test leg of the tour.
5. Eoin Morgan (England)
Runs in the series: 274
Average: 68.50
It was a wonderful series for Eoin Morgan, and not just because he hit form with the bat to finish as his side's leading run-scorer.
The England captain made three successive half-centuries to start with, then smashed 113 to lead England to a stunning seven-wicket win at Trent Bridge. They chased down a target of 350 with six overs to spare.
He also showed why he was retained as skipper after a disappointing Cricket World Cup, leading with authority and always with an attacking mindset.
6. Ben Stokes (England)
Runs and wickets in the series: 142 and 9
Averages: 35.50 (batting), 28.22 (bowling)
Ben Stokes showed why England's selectors made a mistake in leaving him out of their squad for the Cricket World Cup, making valuable contributions with both bat and ball.
The all-rounder, playing against the country of his birth, reached double figures each time he batted. His best score was the 68 he made at the Ageas Bowl in the third ODI.
Stokes' bowling, though, was the more impressive of the two disciplines.
He picked up nine wickets, with his economy rate of 6.51 acceptable considering just how many runs were scored during the series.
7. Jos Buttler (England)
Runs in the series: 183
Average: 61
Jos Buttler produced an innings of real class in the series opener, hitting 129 from just 77 deliveries to help England make 400 in a one-day international for the first time.
The wicketkeeper-batsman has now struck the two fastest ODI centuries by an Englishman. His strike rate during the series was a lofty 146.40.
He missed the fifth and final match due to injury, having split the webbing on his left hand in practice, per BBC Sport.
Although replacement Jonny Bairstow was the hero for the hosts in his absence, making a match-winning 83 not out, Buttler is still undoubtedly England's first choice behind the stumps.
8. Adil Rashid (England)
Runs and wickets in the series: 115 and 8
Averages: 38.33 (batting), 39.87 (bowling)
Adil Rashid made an impact with both bat and ball after finally being given a chance to play again for England.
The Yorkshireman last played a full ODI in 2009 (he was in England's XI for the abandoned game against Ireland earlier this year) before being selected against New Zealand.
Primarily picked for his bowling, the leg-spinner claimed four for 55 in the opening win at Edgbaston. New Zealand got to grips with him after that, as Rashid took only four more wickets in the rest of the series.
His batting, though, was a welcome plus. Down at eight, he made 69 in the first ODI to help get England out of a tricky situation.
9. Mark Wood (England)
Wickets in the series: 2
Average: 78.50
It might seem strange to pick a bowler whose average is so high (and who only played in three matches), but Mark Wood impressed in his limited action.
The Durham bowler twice completed 10-over stints at an economy rate of under five, a miraculous achievement during a series that saw batsmen dominate.
He twice knocked over Brendon McCullum in the series as he bowled with not only good control but also serious pace.
Wood was not even selected for the opening two one-dayers—injuries to fellow seamers Chris Jordan and Liam Plunkett gave him the chance to play.
10. Trent Boult (New Zealand)
Wickets in the series: 6
Average: 18
The series may well have ended differently had Trent Boult been available for all of it.
The left-arm seamer claimed four for 55 in the opener, outstanding figures considering England managed to pile on 408 for nine from their 50 overs in Birmingham.
Boult picked up two for 53 in the next match at the Oval, though that would prove to be his final contribution to New Zealand's cause.
However, he then missed the game at the Ageas Bowl, with the Black Caps announcing afterwards that the bowler would be returning home early due to a stress fracture of the lower back, per BBC Sport.
11. Steve Finn (England)
Wickets in the series: 8
Average: 35.37
As England's most experienced seamer, Steven Finn stood up to be counted against New Zealand.
The Middlesex bowler picked up four for 35 in the series opener, including knocking over Brendon McCullum—the man who had flayed him around during the Cricket World Cup—in his first over.
Finn went at an economy rate of 6.02; it would have been below a run-a-ball rate had he not been taken for 22 runs in his final over of the series.
All stats used in the article were from ESPN Cricinfo