Nottingham (England): The series-deciding test between England and New Zealand got a dramatic twist before tea on Sunday when news of England captain Ben Stokes’ impending retirement was announced, just before he took a wicket in his bid to slow the tourists’ charge for victory at Trent Bridge.
New Zealand reached the interval on 234-8 and with a lead of 318 runs — but with the headlines being dominated not by Daryl Mitchell, who was 63 not out, but by Stokes.
About 15 minutes before tea, an England statement was published saying Stokes would be retiring from England duty at the end of the match in Nottingham, bringing to a close his 15-year international career.
With his first ball after the announcement, Stokes sent down a delivery that was edged by Zak Foulkes to second slip where the catch was taken by Harry Brook, the man likely to take over as England test captain.
It was quite the symbolic moment.
Stokes led the team to the dressing room at the end of the session to a standing ovation from fans — and he’ll need to produce one final effort to lead England to an unlikely victory that would clinch the series.
New Zealand resumed after lunch on 180-4 and would soon lose three wickets for two runs in 10 balls, leaving the tourists on 206-7. Stokes took one of them — Mitchell Santner for 0 — and later removed Foulkes.
Earlier, Rachin Ravindra was out for 94, just short of his sixth test century, to end a partnership of 129 runs for the fourth wicket with Mitchell.
Not since 1999 has New Zealand won a series in England of three tests or more but it is a big favorite now on a deteriorating pitch.
The English haven’t lost a home series of three tests or more since 2012. If they do, there would be more pressure on the team’s leadership after a humiliating 4-1 Ashes series defeat and subsequent concerns about its professionalism in the wake of the dropping of Stokes and Gus Atkinson for the second test for a disciplinary matter.
