Key events
We’re almost ready here as Stokes gets his latest and definitely not last ovation for the day. The big screen is playing a montage and the crowd is clapping.
Who’s going to replace him as skipper? Brook? Root? Any guesses?
Ten minutes to go until the start of day five.
We have a…smattering of fans in the ground I reckon. That’d be my official terminology anyway. Sweepstakes in of what time this will all be over. I’m going for 14:07.
And we’ve had the idea of the day from Wayne (kia ora, Wayne) down in New Zealand.
“As a Kiwi, I’ve always wondered how Stokes’ career would have gone had he opted to play for NZ, the country of his birth…After the 4 year ICC stand down for professionals who switch allegiance, he’ll only be 39 and, well, would you write off one more maverick twist in the Stokes tale?”
I’m all for it. Stokes to reverse his international retirement in 2030 and turn out for the Black Caps. (I’m not even sure that would be allowed.)
We’ve had a couple people emailing in (get in contact here) about their thoughts from yesterday.
Liam (hello, Liam) doesn’t hold back: “I thought yesterday was a display of complete arrogance, in keeping with the shambles of the last couple of years.”
While Anand (hello, Anand) isn’t convinced of the ploy for Stokes to open: “Don’t think him opening the batting was probably a good idea and if it wasn’t his last innings, I don’t think he would’ve done it.”
Third favourite Ben Stokes memory? I’ll go first. Lord’s 2023. It was ultimately doomed. But maybe that’s what made it better.
And here’s another thing if you like your stats and facts uncaveated. The last time England lost a Test series at home of any sort? New Zealand 2021 when the Black Caps beat England one-nil over two matches. It’s always these boys.
And if England are losing, that means New Zealand are winning.
The tourists have been excellent are the depth of their seam-bowling stocks and overall quality has been immense. Remember, these boys knocked over India three-nil in India’s own backyard less than two years ago. And now they might be about to give England their first series defeat on home soil* since 2012. Not bad from the Black Caps.
*In series of three Tests or more. It’s just very wordy to say it all in one go.
So, match situation. In short, England are losing. They need another 270 runs and are four wickets down.
But where there’s a Root, there’s a way. The former England skipper (and possibly future England skipper?) is at the crease on nine along with Emilio Gay on six.
It’s from a couple of days ago, but also worth a read of Andy Bull from Saturday.
Amidst all the drama and emotion of Stokes’ retirement, there is also the small fact that this is likely to be England’s sixth Test defeat in the last eight. They will have two wins from their last ten and have a losing record over the past three years. Will there be more change ahead?
Mark Ramprakash’s article on Stokes yesterday was excellent. It’s a morning to sit back and read everything from the twenty-four hours and I’d start, for now, with this.
I first came across him when he featured in a Sunday League game at the Oval for Durham against Surrey. He bowled a couple of balls and I thought: “I fancy this guy.” So I tried to hoick him into the stands, and of course my middle stump went cartwheeling.
To get in the mood. Here’s a gallery of Stokes’ remarkable cricket career in pictures.
There may be just a few things to talk about today. Get in touch with me here and I’m interested in all your thoughts. What you thought of yesterday, was it self-indulgent or was it a blaze of glory? And also your favourite Ben Stokes’ moments. Headingley 2019, Lord’s 2019 and….?
Preamble
Well. We’re here and it’s happening. Ben Stokes’ final day as a Test cricketer.
It’s a fresh air day for him as he’s already batted and already bowled, but he’ll watch his team do their best to chase down an unlikely 373 to avoid their first home series defeat since 2012 (three Tests or more).
Yesterday was one of the most extraordinary days of cricket ever. If you want to read Ali Martin’s report of it, it is here.
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