England v New Zealand 3rd Test Day 4: Stokes Retires from International Cricket as New Zealand Close on Series Victory

The Story of the Match

DAY four of the 3rd Rothesay Test Match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham exploded into life when Ben Stokes the England captain announced his retirement from international cricket at 3.30 p.m. whilst bowling for England unchanged during the afternoon session of play, then he took the wicket of Zak Foulkes within seconds of the announcement. An amazing way to leave the game, a sad day for English cricket fans and supporters of the game. He even opened the batting and scored a quick fire 30 runs but will now sit out the rest of the game in the dressing room.

The captain was hung out to dry by the establishment and with his retirement there goes the Ashes being regained in 2027 - England need to find a new captain for the Pakistan series capable of beating Australia next summer - Harry Brook is seriously not that person, a white ball captain but surely not a red ball skipper.

Rob Key and Brendon McCullum must look themselves in the mirror now as they have caused an almighty change of guard in England's Test Cricket persona - it is time for them both to go as neither can take the current team forward without Stokes.

New Zealand made 288 for 9 declared with Daryl Mitchell 100 not out, his 6th Test hundred, and thanks to his performance New Zealand set England 373 to win with a day and 75 minutes of play remaining. Ben Stokes opened the batting with Ben Duckett.

England ended the day with Ben Stokes retired from international cricket and heading for a series defeat against New Zealand, England needing 373 runs to win the Test and the series reeling at 103 for 4 from 15 overs after some indulgent batting, with Joe Root not out 9 from 11 balls and Emilio Gay not out 6 from 4 balls, England needing 270 runs to win and New Zealand needing 6 wickets to win the series.

New Zealand started the day 120 for 3 with Rachin Ravindra 60 not out from 90 balls with eight boundary 4's and Daryl Mitchell 26 not out from 60 balls with three boundary 4's. New Zealand led by 204 runs with 7 wickets remaining.

Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell took the New Zealand score past 150 without any trouble as England's bowlers failed to make any inroads into the tourists in the morning session.

Rachin Ravindra was dismissed for 94 runs from 149 balls with twelve boundary 4's when the New Zealand total reached 180 for 4 from 58.4 overs. Two balls later New Zealand reached lunch on day 4 on 180 for 4 from 60 overs with Daryl Mitchell 47 not out from 149 balls with six boundary 4's and Tom Blundell 0 not out from 2 balls. At lunch New Zealand led by 264 runs with 6 wickets in hand.

New Zealand's 200 was achieved in 66.1 overs with Daryl Mitchell 47 not out and Tom Blundell 0 not out. After lunch New Zealand moved to 204 for 5 from 67 overs when Tom Blundell was caught at backward square leg by Emilio Gay off the bowling of Jofra Archer for 18 runs from 24 balls with three boundary 4's.

Daryl Mitchell achieved his 50 from 170 balls with six boundary 4's. Mitchell Santner only lasted 3 deliveries before he was caught by Jamie Smith off Ben Stokes for 0 when the New Zealand total was 205 for 6 from 67.4 overs.

The last recognised batter Daryl Mitchell was then joined by Nathan Smith with New Zealand 289 runs ahead. New Zealand started to fall apart as Nathan Smith went for just 1 run from 5 balls when he was caught behind by Jamie Smith off Jofra Archer when the New Zealand total was 206 for 7 from 68.3 overs. At the time of the wicket Jofra Archer's bowling analysis was 4 for 40.

Daryl Mitchell was 50 not out when he was joined by Zak Foulkes. The ECB announced Ben Stokes was retiring from international cricket as he was bowling at Trent Bridge and within seconds Stokes had Zak Foulkes caught at slip by Harry Brook for 6 runs from 41 balls when the total was 224 for 8 from 81.1 overs. Stokes had told his team pre match of his retirement from international cricket.

At tea New Zealand were 234 for 8 from 83 overs. Stokes bowled 11-1-16-1 unchanged between lunch and tea during which time his decision to retire was announced. Daryl Mitchell was 63 not out. New Zealand led by 318 runs at the tea interval.

Ben Stokes returned to the field after tea through a guard of honour from his teammates and everyone in the crowd stood to applaud the outgoing skipper.

After tea Ben Sears was retired out for 19 from 32 balls when the total was 274 for 8 and so Will O'Rourke came in to join Mitchell who was 92 not out, with New Zealand 279 for 8.

Will O'Rourke was bowled by Gus Atkinson for 0 from 3 balls when the total was 279 for 9 from 91.3 overs. Ben Sears, who had been retired with a finger injury, returned to try and see Daryl Mitchell through to his 100.

New Zealand declared at 288 for 9 from 94 overs after Daryl Mitchell reached his 100 from 241 balls with one boundary 6 and ten boundary 4's. Ben Sears was 19 not out from 40 balls with 2 boundaries. New Zealand ended 372 runs ahead, so England needed 373 to win and New Zealand 10 wickets. Jofra Archer 4 for 53, Gus Atkinson 2 for 50, Ben Stokes 2 for 49 and Shoaib Bashir 1 for 42 took the wickets.

England started their 2nd innings needing 373 to win at 5.15 p.m. with Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes opening the batting.

Ben Stokes' Test career ended when he was caught by Daryl Mitchell off the bowling of Zak Foulkes for 30 from 20 balls with two boundary 6's and two boundary 4's when the England total had reached 50 for 1 from 7.2 overs.

Jacob Bethell came in at number 3 and he was lbw to Zak Foulkes for 0 from 4 balls without adding to the total as it became 50 for 2 from 8 overs.

Harry Brook hit a boundary 6 and a boundary 4 with his first two deliveries off Nathan Smith but his innings did not last long as Brook was caught at long leg for 21 from 9 balls by Nathan Smith off Zak Foulkes when the England total was 72 for 3 from 9.5 overs. Joe Root came in for the final 25 minutes of the day.

Ben Duckett was next to go five minutes before the close of play when he was caught by Daryl Mitchell off Ben Sears for 36 runs from 42 balls when the total was 95 for 4 from 14 overs.

Emilio Gay came in next at number 6. England ended the day on 103 for 4 from 15 overs after some indulgent batting, with Joe Root not out 9 from 11 balls and Emilio Gay not out 6 from 4 balls, England needing 270 runs to win and New Zealand needing 6 wickets to win the series.

The day saw the end of Ben Stokes' international England career - the ECB need to consider where they go now with only Harry Brook or Joe Root the only options for Test captaincy from within the existing group. Did Stokes sacrifice himself to save Baz and Key? Only time will tell.

Free admission tomorrow at Trent Bridge.

Author's Standout Players

• Ben Stokes (England) - Announced the shock end of his international career, took 2 for 49 bowling unchanged between lunch and tea, and opened the batting in his final Test innings, scoring 30 quick fire runs in a 50 run partnership with Ben Duckett
• Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand) - Hit 94 runs from 149 balls with twelve boundary 4's
• Jofra Archer (England) - Bagged 4 for 53 with the ball
• Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand) - An unbeaten 100 from 241 balls with one boundary 6 and ten boundary 4's
• Zak Foulkes (New Zealand) - Ended the day with 3 for 42 including the wickets of Ben Stokes, Jacob Bethell and Harry Brook

Match Scores

New Zealand 1st innings 438 in 114.5 overs - Conway 157, Latham 151, Nicholls 36, Blundell 30; Stokes 4 for 70, Archer 2 for 75, Shoaib Bashir 2 for 105.

England 1st innings 354 in 88.2 overs - Duckett 113, Bethell 74, Brook 58; Smith 4 for 91, Foulkes 3 for 35, O'Rourke 3 for 53.

New Zealand 2nd innings 288 for 9 declared in 94 overs - Mitchell 100 not out, Ravindra 94; Archer 4 for 53, Stokes 2 for 49, Atkinson 2 for 50.

England 2nd innings 103 for 4 in 15 overs - Duckett 36, Stokes 30, Brook 21; Foulkes 3 for 42.