Ben Stokes took centre stage, in more ways than one, as the announcement of his international retirement dominated a quite remarkable fourth day’s play of England’s third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
Stokes’ decision, and a chaotic few hours that followed, sadly does not mask the fact that England appear destined to lose a first home series of three or more matches since 2012. They head into the fifth and final day on 103-4, needing a further 270 to win.
The shock news broke at 3.25pm in the midst of a typically lionhearted Stokes spell with the ball that saw him bowl 11 overs unchanged from lunch through to tea.
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Stokes took a wicket moments after announcing his retirement from international cricket
Within three minutes of the announcement, and the news filtering around the ground, Stokes took a wicket with his very next ball to spark scenes of wild celebration. An ‘I was there’ moment, the latest in a career littered with them.
But Stokes was not done there. Once New Zealand declared at 288-9, upon Daryl Mitchell bringing up a brave, dogged 241-ball hundred, Stokes opened the batting and came out swinging from ball one!
He hit two majestic maximums, as well as a couple of boundaries in a 20-ball 30, but there was to be no repeat of his 2019 Headingley heroics to sign off his England career as his frenetic knock reached its inevitable end in the eighth over with a swipe straight to mid-on.
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A look back at Stokes’ heroic Ashes display at Headingley in 2019
Stokes was rightly awarded a standing ovation in salute to his remarkable career, as well as recognition of the parting entertainment provided, but England’s aggressive approach did not stop with his exit.
Jacob Bethell still batted at No 3 – ahead of opener Emilio Gay (6no), who continued to be bumped down the order until No 6 – but he departed lbw for a fourth-ball duck when leaving one from Zak Foulkes (3-42) which nipped back into the left-hander, DRS confirming his dismissal.
Harry Brook (21) did not exactly make his case to be Stokes’ successor as Test captain with a chaotic nine-ball stay that, yes, contained three boundaries and a six, but saw him throw his wicket away with a scoop down fine leg’s throat.
Ben Duckett (36), fresh from his fine hundred in the first innings, again played nicely until he edged to slip off Ben Sears (1-3) as New Zealand delivered another devastating blow.
Joe Root (9no) remains to give the hosts a glimmer of hope, as does a depleted New Zealand bowling attack – making England’s approach with the bat all the more bizarre.
The Black Caps are already sans the injured Matt Henry and rested Kyle Jamieson for this Test, Blair Tickner was lost to concussion in the first innings, and though Foulkes has done brilliantly as his replacement, Will O’Rourke is also struggling with a finger injury that saw him leave the field after being struck by one off Stokes’ bat from his only delivery of the innings so far.
More to follow…
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Stokes announces his international retirement inside England’s dressing room
England vs New Zealand – results and schedule
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