England’s batting woes in the third Test against New Zealand have raised concerns over their credentials for next year’s Ashes series.

Despite wrapping up a 2-1 series victory over the Black Caps, the visitors were smashed by 423 runs in what was essentially a dead-rubber fixture.

But with more than two days left to bat and chase down a mammoth total of 658 runs to win, England opted to stick with their inconsistent Bazball approach.

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Ben Duckett was out slogging for just 4 in the second innings, before young gun Jacob Bethell (76) and superstar Joe Root (54) dug in to show some fight.

Their hard work was undone when Harry Brook was out cheaply, before wicket-keeper Ollie Pope attempted an ugly ramp shot after lunch on Tuesday and was clean bowled.

“What an awful shot,” commentator Garth Gallaway said on Sport Nation NZ.

“He goes to ramp the bowler, it’s a full delivery … that really is just an embarrassment.”

The brain fade from Pope drew criticism from Kiwi great Ian Smith, who was left stunned by the lack of game awareness from an experienced player.

And the dismissal – which highlighted the pitfalls of the fast-paced Bazball tactics the side have used in recent years – has put England on notice before they face Australia next year in a bumper five-game Test series on the road.

“I’m a bit perplexed here,” Smith said.

“Sit him down in a cold dark room and put some electrodes on his head and say ‘what were you thinking Ollie?’. He won’t be alone because Duckett will still be in there.

“If they are gonna play like that, Australia will absolutely mop them up. Imagine walking out on the MCG with 90,000 people and trying to ramp Mitchell Starc just after lunch.” 

England will next play in the red-ball format against Zimbabwe in May, before a five-game series against India mid-way through next year.