Ben Stokes’ final day as an international cricketer has arrived as England attempt to avoid defeat against New Zealand after their captain’s shock retirement.
Stokes announced that he would bow out at the end of the third Test just before tea on the fourth day, striking immediately with the ball after the news was confirmed. The departing skipper seemed determined to go down in a blaze of glory with the bat, promoting himself to open and swinging from the hip before being dismissed for 30.
His cavalier charge rather set the tone as England played with reckless abandon, leaving themselves in a real hole at 103/4 chasing an unlikely target of 373. Joe Root remains, probably as their last hope of avoiding a series defeat, while there will be plenty more digesting to be done of Stokes’ decision – which could (and perhaps should) have wider ramifications within the hierarchy as an era ends.
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The match situation
Lost a little in the Ben Stokes shuffle is that England are careering towards a series defeat. Joe Root (9*) and Emilio Gay (6*, having dropped down after Ben Stokes opened) will resume this morning on 103/4 requiring another 270 runs for an unlikely victory – and judging by their approach last night, the hosts won’t deadbat for a draw.
England are losing the wrong man – McCullum and Key can’t survive while Stokes quits
Ben Stokes has been indelibly linked to Brendon McCullum and Rob Key as England Test captain – so does it feel wrong that he is the one walking away first? Lawrence Ostlere makes that case:
Ben Stokes explains stunning England retirement: ‘I don’t think I have any fight left in me’
One imagines there is a perhaps deeper reckoning of the reasons to come, but after retiring, Ben Stokes explained that he felt some of his trademark fight had gone.
ANALYSIS: Stokes was England’s flawed champion – and irreplaceable
England have seldom had someone quite like Ben Stokes – a man for the moment and of remarkable heart, fight and spirit. Richard Jolly pays tribute to a flawed but utterly, utterly fabulous cricketer.
England captain Ben Stokes announces shock retirement from international cricket
It was at 15.25 on a sleepy Sunday afternoon that news of Ben Stokes’ retirement was announced – changing the face of this Test and plenty more besides.
England vs New Zealand LIVE
Well then.
It’s the morning after the night before, and Ben Stokes’ final day as an international cricketer is upon us. There is much more digesting to be done after a simply stunning and surreal afternoon and evening of Test cricket – but as their captain bows out, England are right in the mire and on the brink of series defeat.
