Ben Stokes brought the curtain down on his successful Test career with a surprise retirement announcement in the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. Although England lost the match, Stokes’ incredible contribution to the game was celebrated by his teammates and opponents alike, with New Zealand captain Tom Latham and long-time England teammate Joe Root paying heartfelt tributes.Tom Latham on Ben Stokes: “On behalf of the New Zealand cricket team, I just want to thank you for an amazing job. You are truly a once-in-a-lifetime player. We’ve been fighting tough battles over the years, and it’s been a privilege to play against you. Congratulations on a fantastic job, mate. Enjoy your retirement.”Joe Root on playing with Stokes: “I’ve played cricket with Ben since we were 12 years old. He taught me swear words for the first time when I played against him and knocked me down. We’ve been going strong ever since. It will feel strange walking into the dressing room without seeing him. He has been an amazing companion and friend throughout the journey. “
New Zealand then publishes the list in England
New Zealand beat England by 160 runs in the third Test at Trent Bridge, sealing the three-match series 2-1 and handing England their first defeat of three or more matches in 14 years. The match was overshadowed by the shock announcement of Ben Stokes’ retirement, with the England captain ending his international career after the tournament.After opting to bat first, New Zealand posted 438 in their first innings thanks to centuries from Devon Conway (157) and Tom Latham (151). England responded with 354, aided by Ben Duckett’s 113, leaving the visitors with an 84-run first-innings lead.In the second innings, Daryl Mitchell made an unbeaten 100 while hitting a couple of punches, guiding New Zealand to 288/9. England set a daunting target of 373, but their chase was unsuccessful. Stokes opened the batting in his farewell innings and scored a quick 30 off 20 balls, but England were bowled out for 212, 160 runs down.New Zealand’s bowlers shared the damage, with Mitchell Santner picking up vital wickets on the final day, while Nathan Smith and concussion replacement Zak Foulkes made significant contributions throughout the game. A 75-run stand between Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson briefly delayed the inevitable before the visitors wrapped up victory.
