Ben Stokes was unable to produce the fairytale ending to his time as England’s captain, having played the hero at numerous points during his glittering international career.
Stokes announced via a statement released on Sunday – midway through the afternoon session and while he was bowling – that the Test series decider against New Zealand would be his last international match, some 15 years on from his England debut and after four years as Test captain.
The 35-year-old has played starring roles in World Cup victories and historic Ashes run chases, and broken records during his England career, with the all-rounder initially still hoping for one more magical moment in his Test finale at Trent Bridge.
Stokes took a wicket with the first ball he bowled immediately after the retirement announcement went public, then smashed 30 from 20 deliveries after deciding to open the batting for England’s attempted run chase.
He was given a standing ovation after being dismissed, with England reaching stumps on 103-4 after a chaotic 15 overs left them on the brink of a series defeat on home soil.
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Stokes reflects on his career with England and how much he has enjoyed captaining the side
England will require a further 270 runs for victory on the fifth and final day in Nottingham, with former captain Michael Atherton questioning whether a different approach may have given Stokes a better chance of making a match-winning impact.
“The alternative narrative to Stokes opening is that England keep the same order, then got through whatever they got through tonight playing normal cricket as opposed to crazy cricket,” Atherton said during Sky Sports’ coverage.
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Stokes plays his last shot in an England shirt
“Then you have all the anticipation of Stokes’ last day tomorrow. A fifth-day crowd was offered a free ticket, so a definite full house. There would be anticipation that something extraordinary could be done on his last day as a Test cricketer.
“That’s not the way he and England chose to go.”
Zak Foulkes trapped Jacob Bethell in the same over without scoring before ending Harry Brook’s bonkers nine-ball 21, with Ben Duckett also falling before the close to leave England facing a tall task.
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Highlights from day four of the third Test between England and New Zealand, where Stokes opened the batting
“It’s quite incredible,” former New Zealand international Simon Doull said on commentary about England’s tactics. “Not sure I can fathom or get it at all.
“There’s a Test match to try and win, a series to try and win. It feels like players are throwing it away.”
How ‘outstanding’ Stokes delivered more Test drama
England’s 2019 World Cup hero admitted that four years as Test captain had left him “burnt out” and unable to connect with his love of the game, with Stokes telling his team-mates ahead of the fourth day that he would end his international career after this third Test.
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Stokes announces his international retirement inside England’s dressing room
Stokes was in the midst of a marathon bowling stint when the announcement was made at 3.25pm, just before he claimed the last of his 252 Test wickets and celebrated another iconic England moment.
“It was orchestrated for this afternoon for the announcement to get out before Stokes opened the batting, because had they not announced anything and he opened it would give everything away,” Atherton explained.
“Clearly he wanted to be in the thick of the action when that announcement came. It was an 11-over spell, the kind of spell that characterises him as a bowler and as a cricketer – somebody who wants to be right in the thick of the action.
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Sky Sports’ James Cole dives into Stokes retirement announcement and who might now take his role as England captain
“And of course the drama of getting a wicket with the first ball after the announcement came. These great cricketers, they script things for themselves! It was very Botham-esque in a way.”
His future had been questioned after a 4-1 Ashes thrashing in Australia over the winter and again earlier in the series, following a nightclub incident that saw him dropped for the second Test, with Stokes described as ‘one of the defining figures of his generation’ after calling time on his England career.
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Jonathan Trott discusses Stokes’ retirement announcement and gives his thoughts on why he may have made the decision
“An undeniably great cricketer for England, no question about that,” Atherton added. “I think he’s been an outstanding England captain throughout that journey.
“The first couple of years, it was a transformation the likes of which few of us have seen of a sporting team – one that was pretty moribund, really, and then he turned it around with the help of others.
“It hasn’t gone to plan in the last year. And I have to say, we were there at Lord’s, and those of us who’ve been in that job I think recognised that he’d come to the end of the road.
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Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad react to Stokes announcing his international retirement and reflect on his legendary career
“He looked like a man who’d been captain of England for four years. A lot of us did it for about that time. It is a wearing job, one that gets on top of you and that you can’t let go.”
Why ‘warrior’ Stokes will be ‘sorely missed’
Stokes – who has made 122 Test appearances for England – is one of only two players in history to score over 7,000 runs and take over 250 wickets in Tests, leading him to be compared with some of the sport’s greatest all-rounder.
“It doesn’t feel quite real, to be honest,” former England bowler Stuart Broad told Sky Sports. “Just standing next to him there, it’s the right decision. He knows he’s finished playing cricket at the highest level, under this pressure, under this scrutiny.
“It’s a shame for England fans that we won’t see him put on that shirt again. And for us, in the job we do, as he’s so entertaining to talk about and comment on. He’s been a generational talent, an outstanding warrior for English cricket, and he will be sorely missed.”
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A look back at Stokes’ heroic Ashes display at Headingley in 2019
Broad added: “I really hoped he would continue through to next summer and lead this team a little longer. I feel the same with Joe Root, and these players who we’ve seen for a long period of time influence English cricket, you want to soak up and enjoy watching them for longer.
“Now we won’t see him at the highest level on the greatest stage, but we have some pretty special memories. I just have to say he was the most incredible team-mate to have. You knew he was always with you, always supporting you and doing everything for the team to win.”
England vs New Zealand – results and schedule
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