Ben Stokes concluded his 15-year international cricket career amidst an ongoing Test match where New Zealand is close to securing a series victory against England. On the fourth day at Trent Bridge, England finished at 103-4, still requiring 270 runs to achieve a 2-1 series win after New Zealand declared their second innings at 288-9.
Stokes, who announced his retirement during a lengthy afternoon bowling spell, promoted himself to opener in England’s pursuit of a 373-run victory target. He hit a six off Zak Foulkes, marking the earliest an England player has hit a six in a Test innings. He scored 30 runs off 20 balls before being dismissed by Foulkes, departing to a standing ovation.
England’s chase and New Zealand’s strong position
Following Stokes’ dismissal, Jacob Bethell was out for a duck shortly after. Harry Brook, considered a potential successor to Stokes as Test captain, also fell for 21 runs off nine balls, giving Foulkes his third wicket. The loss of Ben Duckett to Ben Sears in the penultimate over left England at 103-4 after 15 overs.
New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell scored an unbeaten 100 runs off 241 balls, achieving his sixth Test century despite sustaining several blows. He hit ten fours and one six during his nearly seven-hour stay at the crease. Sears, who retired hurt with a finger injury, returned to bat to help Mitchell reach his milestone. Earlier, Sears and Rachin Ravindra had a crucial fourth-wicket partnership of 129 runs, with Ravindra scoring 94 runs.
Joe Root, who remained unbeaten on nine runs at the close of play, expressed disappointment at the loss of four wickets but noted that England had made progress towards their target. He stated that the team remains in the game and that a series win would be a fitting farewell for Stokes.
A career defined by resilience and key performances
Stokes’ career is marked by moments of resilience and impactful performances. He is known for his ability to perform under pressure and deliver when his team needed him most. His international career spanned 15 years, during which he established himself as a fierce competitor and an inspirational leader.
Among his notable performances was a century against Australia in Perth in 2013, where he scored 120 runs in only his second Test appearance. In 2016, during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Delhi, Stokes took 3 wickets for 26 runs, playing a crucial role in restricting the opposition. He also achieved his best Test bowling figures of 6 wickets for 22 runs against the West Indies at Lord’s in 2017.
Stokes was also instrumental in England’s victory in the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final at Lord’s, scoring an unbeaten 84 runs against New Zealand and earning the Player of the Match award. Shortly after, he delivered another remarkable performance in the Ashes series at Headingley in 2019, scoring 135 runs to help England secure a victory.
The match at Trent Bridge will conclude the captaincy era for Stokes, on the same ground where ‘Bazball’ was reportedly initiated four years prior, when England successfully chased down 299 runs against New Zealand.
As the fifth and final day approaches, New Zealand holds a dominant position, with England needing 270 runs to win the series.
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Source: thehindu.com
