July 4, 2026 • 8 mins
Last week, the Black Caps wrapped up a 160-run third test victory over England at Trent Bridge to secure a 2-1 series victory.
Coming from 1-nil down in the series, the Black Caps won the third Test without two of the match winners from the side who levelled the series last week.
Zak Foulkes was one of the players who helped the Kiwi side to victory and he joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's been for the Black Aps a Test series win
in England, one of the toughest achievements in world cricket.
New Zealand have done exactly that, coming from one Test
down to win it two to one, producing a superb
performance in the third Test so clinch the series on
English soil. One of the great stories of the victory
past bowler Zach Folks who came into the deciding third
(00:34):
Test as a concussion substitute and seized his chance with
both hands.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
It's falling apart for England. Don't forget the work that
New Zealand have put in today. That gritty one hundred
from Darryl Mitchell and now the wickets for Folks, for Stokes,
than Bethel and now Brook.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yes, six wickets across two innings for Zack Folks, including
Ben Stokes twice, Harry Brook twice and Jacob Bethel to
help all the Black Caps to a win by one
hundred and sixty runs at trent Bridge. Zach Folks is
back home and joins us. Congratulations on a brilliant week mate.
You weren't even expecting to play such a big role
in the deciding Test. But suddenly you find yourself right
(01:21):
in the middle of one of New Zealand crickets great
overseas series victories. Has it all sunk in yet?
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Now it's been will win a few days. Actually, obviously
didn't didn't think I was going to play any part
in that test. And then to play play a part
to contribute to a Test one and a series win
was very, very exciting and very rewarding.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Really, I guess if you are in the eleven or
kind of know you're in the eleven a few days before,
that's a different proposition from the one that faced you.
You came in, as I say, as a concussion sub
for Blyir Tickner. How difficult was it mentally and I
guess physically two to go from thinking you're not going
to play any part to suddenly being right there in
the thick of it.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Yeah, it's obviously very strange. Like obviously as twelfth Man
and stuff, you do try and stuff for before the
day's play, and you do your gym and you're not
really preparing to play, and then obviously no one likes
to see anyone get hit in the head. Thoughts went
out to Blair and yeah, he said, tough old run
(02:22):
with injuries and bit of luck hasn't really gone his way.
But yeah, it was funny, like it's almost probably not
a bad thing, so you don't think about it too
much and sort of just go out there and play.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Really, what was the message you got from Tom Layton
when he said, right, you're in, here's what I need
you to do.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Yeah, it was a funny old process. So I had
to field for a little bit and then before everything
got signed off, and then he sort of just came
up to me and said, just do your thing. We
sort of knew knew the mode of how we were
going to go about it. Keep up with the stumps
and just try and be nice and boring and relentless
with our line and lengths. And then yeah, the wickets
(02:59):
sort of started to play a few tricks, and yeah,
we saw the way they played and the second thing,
which is a little bit rogue, but worked in our favor.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Really it was, wasn't it. Rogue's a great word, a
great word for it. It was. It was quite remarkable
watching them bat in that way. Did you expect that
from them, and when they started batting that way, what
what was the conversation going on among you guys.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Yeah, we sort of assumed Stokes she was going to
play like that after promoting himself up the order, and
then we didn't really expect the rest of them to
go about it that way. But we sort of just
thought we'd just do our stuff and the work it
was obviously offering a little bit, That's why they were
(03:44):
playing like that. So if we could just hang in there,
the odd ball would hopefully bounce or keep low or
do a little bit, a little bit of something sideways
and we'd get our we'd get our treats that way.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Really, was there a point at which you thought, right,
we've got this, we we are in control here during
the fourth innings, I mean, I don't.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Know, because it's very dangerous, so bat very deep as well.
You see Josh for Archer betting at nine or ten,
and he's very capable with the bat. So we saw
them have a partnership Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson. They
played pretty normally and made it look pretty easy, so
we obviously knew there was a lot of tough work
(04:24):
to do that final day and those two runouts are
probably pretty pretty critical for us.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Really funny old Test day with you know, as you say,
Ben Stokes announcing his retirement mid Test, it's unprecedented, and
then you go on and win it, and then all
of the postmatch stuff was about Ben Stokes. From what
I could see over here, I was obviously pretty good,
you know, coverage of the black Caps. But did it
feel weird after which you'd just made history in England
and everybody's talking about the retiring bloke from the other side.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Yeah, it was a bit strange, and just the way
he announced that during the session as he was bowling
and then proceeded to get me out twenty five seconds
later or something that wasn't wasn't ideal, but yeah, it's
just the way it is. Really. He's been a great
servant of English cricket for maybe like fifteen years, so
(05:13):
he sort of gets his chance to retire how he wants,
so I guess. But yeah, it did seem, yeah, a
little overshadowed the result that we actually got. But yeah,
I yes, we're proud of our result and that's what
really matters at the end of the day.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Yeah, I love that word you used before and it
is a positive word boring, you know, but I think
it means consistent. I think it means knowing your game
plan and sticking to it. And look, I don't know,
I just thought you guys played some tremendous Test cricket
across the three Test matches. What was the degree of
satisfaction afterwards when you sat back in the changing room
and thought, right, we one a series here in England
(05:50):
playing our brand of Test cricket.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Yeah, very satisfying. And you saw the whole squad got
to go really obviously came retiring, gave Henry Nichols a
chance and he took that with both hands, which was
awesome to see. And then all the bowlers like came
in and just sort of done pretty seamlessly. Really, Cis
and Nason Smith was great whole series being men of
(06:18):
the Men of Series. Yeah, it was very very rewarding
series win. Really.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Yeah, you're a part of a good bunch of seam
bowlers now, you know, I think we all sort of
worry for a while when Trent Bolt, Neil Wagner and
Tim Soudi retired and Kyle was in and out with
his back injuries. You know where the scene bowling would
come from. But now it feels as though there's a
real cohort of scene bowlers and you just reeled off
a few names. There must be a pretty exciting time
to be part of this scene bowling unit for New Zealand,
(06:43):
is it? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Definitely. And we all sort of gel off each other
and get around each other, which is awesome to awesome
to see really, and we also got Jacob Duffy coming
back as well. Yeah, it's obviously exciting time for New
Zealand cricket. We've got I think eight tiest matches in
the next however many months, which is going to be
very exciting, and we're going to all that past ballers
(07:07):
I think.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Yeah, So how do you push for your place, Zach,
when there's so many different options? I mean, you don't
just want to be a guy comes in as a
concussion sub because that's not going to happen very often.
I wouldn't imagine. How do you put your best foot
forward now ahead of this really exciting period of red
ball cricket for New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Yeah, I guess not. Just try not to overcomplicate it
and try to just get better and add a few
strings to my bow and yeah, trying to be as
consistent as possible. I guess well.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Congrats mate, it was just awesome to see your part
in this and in New Zealand winning your Test series
over there for just the fourth time. You're back home now, mate,
So what are your what's the media are you? You
don winter training that sort of things. What's next for you?
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Yeah, we have a little bit of a gym block
and bit of training and stuff before the home summer
kicks off.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Really good stuff, Zack, Thanks for chatting mate. Congrats again,
always good.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
To catch up with some cheers Penny.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Thank you mate. That Zach folks off the back of
his key role in New Zealand winning a Test series
in England for just the fourth time.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's been for the Black Aps a Test series win
in England, one of the toughest achievements in world cricket.
New Zealand have done exactly that, coming from one Test
down to win it two to one, producing a superb
performance in the third Test so clinch the series on
English soil. One of the great stories of the victory
past bowler Zach Folks who came into the deciding third
(00:34):
Test as a concussion substitute and seized his chance with
both hands.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
It's falling apart for England. Don't forget the work that
New Zealand have put in today. That gritty one hundred
from Darryl Mitchell and now the wickets for Folks, for Stokes,
than Bethel and now Brook.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yes, six wickets across two innings for Zack Folks, including
Ben Stokes twice, Harry Brook twice and Jacob Bethel to
help all the Black Caps to a win by one
hundred and sixty runs at trent Bridge. Zach Folks is
back home and joins us. Congratulations on a brilliant week mate.
You weren't even expecting to play such a big role
in the deciding Test. But suddenly you find yourself right
(01:21):
in the middle of one of New Zealand crickets great
overseas series victories. Has it all sunk in yet?
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Now it's been will win a few days. Actually, obviously
didn't didn't think I was going to play any part
in that test. And then to play play a part
to contribute to a Test one and a series win
was very, very exciting and very rewarding.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Really, I guess if you are in the eleven or
kind of know you're in the eleven a few days before,
that's a different proposition from the one that faced you.
You came in, as I say, as a concussion sub
for Blyir Tickner. How difficult was it mentally and I
guess physically two to go from thinking you're not going
to play any part to suddenly being right there in
the thick of it.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Yeah, it's obviously very strange. Like obviously as twelfth Man
and stuff, you do try and stuff for before the
day's play, and you do your gym and you're not
really preparing to play, and then obviously no one likes
to see anyone get hit in the head. Thoughts went
out to Blair and yeah, he said, tough old run
(02:22):
with injuries and bit of luck hasn't really gone his way.
But yeah, it was funny, like it's almost probably not
a bad thing, so you don't think about it too
much and sort of just go out there and play.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Really, what was the message you got from Tom Layton
when he said, right, you're in, here's what I need
you to do.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Yeah, it was a funny old process. So I had
to field for a little bit and then before everything
got signed off, and then he sort of just came
up to me and said, just do your thing. We
sort of knew knew the mode of how we were
going to go about it. Keep up with the stumps
and just try and be nice and boring and relentless
with our line and lengths. And then yeah, the wickets
(02:59):
sort of started to play a few tricks, and yeah,
we saw the way they played and the second thing,
which is a little bit rogue, but worked in our favor.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Really it was, wasn't it. Rogue's a great word, a
great word for it. It was. It was quite remarkable
watching them bat in that way. Did you expect that
from them, and when they started batting that way, what
what was the conversation going on among you guys.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Yeah, we sort of assumed Stokes she was going to
play like that after promoting himself up the order, and
then we didn't really expect the rest of them to
go about it that way. But we sort of just
thought we'd just do our stuff and the work it
was obviously offering a little bit, That's why they were
(03:44):
playing like that. So if we could just hang in there,
the odd ball would hopefully bounce or keep low or
do a little bit, a little bit of something sideways
and we'd get our we'd get our treats that way.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Really, was there a point at which you thought, right,
we've got this, we we are in control here during
the fourth innings, I mean, I don't.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Know, because it's very dangerous, so bat very deep as well.
You see Josh for Archer betting at nine or ten,
and he's very capable with the bat. So we saw
them have a partnership Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson. They
played pretty normally and made it look pretty easy, so
we obviously knew there was a lot of tough work
(04:24):
to do that final day and those two runouts are
probably pretty pretty critical for us.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Really funny old Test day with you know, as you say,
Ben Stokes announcing his retirement mid Test, it's unprecedented, and
then you go on and win it, and then all
of the postmatch stuff was about Ben Stokes. From what
I could see over here, I was obviously pretty good,
you know, coverage of the black Caps. But did it
feel weird after which you'd just made history in England
and everybody's talking about the retiring bloke from the other side.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Yeah, it was a bit strange, and just the way
he announced that during the session as he was bowling
and then proceeded to get me out twenty five seconds
later or something that wasn't wasn't ideal, but yeah, it's
just the way it is. Really. He's been a great
servant of English cricket for maybe like fifteen years, so
(05:13):
he sort of gets his chance to retire how he wants,
so I guess. But yeah, it did seem, yeah, a
little overshadowed the result that we actually got. But yeah,
I yes, we're proud of our result and that's what
really matters at the end of the day.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Yeah, I love that word you used before and it
is a positive word boring, you know, but I think
it means consistent. I think it means knowing your game
plan and sticking to it. And look, I don't know,
I just thought you guys played some tremendous Test cricket
across the three Test matches. What was the degree of
satisfaction afterwards when you sat back in the changing room
and thought, right, we one a series here in England
(05:50):
playing our brand of Test cricket.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
Yeah, very satisfying. And you saw the whole squad got
to go really obviously came retiring, gave Henry Nichols a
chance and he took that with both hands, which was
awesome to see. And then all the bowlers like came
in and just sort of done pretty seamlessly. Really, Cis
and Nason Smith was great whole series being men of
(06:18):
the Men of Series. Yeah, it was very very rewarding
series win. Really.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Yeah, you're a part of a good bunch of seam
bowlers now, you know, I think we all sort of
worry for a while when Trent Bolt, Neil Wagner and
Tim Soudi retired and Kyle was in and out with
his back injuries. You know where the scene bowling would
come from. But now it feels as though there's a
real cohort of scene bowlers and you just reeled off
a few names. There must be a pretty exciting time
to be part of this scene bowling unit for New Zealand,
(06:43):
is it? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Definitely. And we all sort of gel off each other
and get around each other, which is awesome to awesome
to see really, and we also got Jacob Duffy coming
back as well. Yeah, it's obviously exciting time for New
Zealand cricket. We've got I think eight tiest matches in
the next however many months, which is going to be
very exciting, and we're going to all that past ballers
(07:07):
I think.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Yeah, So how do you push for your place, Zach,
when there's so many different options? I mean, you don't
just want to be a guy comes in as a
concussion sub because that's not going to happen very often.
I wouldn't imagine. How do you put your best foot
forward now ahead of this really exciting period of red
ball cricket for New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Yeah, I guess not. Just try not to overcomplicate it
and try to just get better and add a few
strings to my bow and yeah, trying to be as
consistent as possible. I guess well.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Congrats mate, it was just awesome to see your part
in this and in New Zealand winning your Test series
over there for just the fourth time. You're back home now, mate,
So what are your what's the media are you? You
don winter training that sort of things. What's next for you?
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Yeah, we have a little bit of a gym block
and bit of training and stuff before the home summer
kicks off.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Really good stuff, Zack, Thanks for chatting mate. Congrats again,
always good.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
To catch up with some cheers Penny.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Thank you mate. That Zach folks off the back of
his key role in New Zealand winning a Test series
in England for just the fourth time.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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