Ben Stokes did not script the fairytale finish with the bat, but Trent Bridge still delivered the farewell one of England’s greatest all-rounders deserved. Hours after announcing his shock retirement from international cricket, the England captain struck a typically aggressive 30 before walking off to a standing ovation and a guard of honour from New Zealand.
The announcement stunned the cricketing world earlier on Sunday, with Stokes informing his teammates before the start of play that the ongoing third Test against New Zealand would be his last appearance for England. In a video shared by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the 35-year-old delivered an emotional message to the dressing room before taking the field.
ENG vs NZ, 3rd Test Day 4: HIGHLIGHTS
“There’s something that I know is going to happen over the next two days, which is my last two days as your captain and my last two days representing England,” Stokes said.
“Reasons can wait but I’ve had many trips to the well before for this team, for you blokes, for people beforehand and I’ve got one more trip to do.
“And the only thing that I ask, please, is can everyone please just do the same? We’ve got a lot of hard work still to do.”
The emotion around Trent Bridge only deepened once the news filtered through the stadium. Stokes was in the middle of a long bowling spell when spectators realised they were watching the final overs of an extraordinary England career. The entire ground rose to applaud him, and in a moment that felt almost written for Hollywood, he dismissed Zakary Foulkes with the very next ball, prompting another deafening roar from the Nottingham crowd.
STOKES SIGNS OFF IN TYPICAL STYLE
If the standing ovation was emotional, Stokes’ final innings was unmistakably Ben Stokes.
England were set a daunting target of 373 after Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten century for New Zealand, and Stokes promoted himself to open the batting for only the third time in his 122-Test career. It was a bold move, but one that perfectly reflected the fearless brand of cricket he has championed as captain.
He announced himself immediately with a crunching drive off his very first delivery and survived an early reprieve when New Zealand spilled a chance. Rather than retreat into caution, Stokes did what he has done throughout his career and counterattacked.
A towering six off Zakary Foulkes disappeared into the leg side before another maximum came against Nathan Smith, while two crisp boundaries kept England’s chase alive and Trent Bridge thoroughly entertained.
His farewell innings ended on 30 from just 20 deliveries, fittingly trying to win the game rather than preserve his wicket.
Looking to launch Zakary Foulkes over the leg side once again, Stokes lost his shape slightly and miscued the stroke. Daryl Mitchell sprinted forward from wide mid-on before completing a superb low diving catch, bringing an end to one final explosive innings.
New Zealand’s players immediately congratulated Stokes, with Mitchell Santner embracing the England captain before both teams formed a guard of honour as he slowly made his way back to the pavilion. Stokes acknowledged every corner of Trent Bridge by raising his bat and helmet as family members, former cricketers and thousands of supporters stood applauding one of England’s modern greats.
A CAREER THAT CHANGED ENGLISH CRICKET
Few players have left a bigger mark on English cricket over the past decade and a half than Ben Stokes.
From his unforgettable unbeaten 84 in the 2019 ODI World Cup final against New Zealand, which dragged England into the Super Over they would eventually win, to the astonishing 135 not out at Headingley that rescued the 2019 Ashes, Stokes built a career around producing extraordinary performances when the stakes were at their highest.
There was also the blistering 258 against South Africa in Cape Town, more than 250 Test wickets, countless match-winning spells and, perhaps just as importantly, the transformation of England’s Test side after taking over as captain in 2022. Alongside head coach Brendon McCullum, Stokes became the face of an attacking philosophy that reshaped England’s approach to red-ball cricket and rekindled excitement around the longest format.
His final innings may have lasted only 20 balls and produced just 30 runs, but it captured almost everything that defined him as a cricketer.
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