Time to close the door on one of the most pinch-yourself afternoons in English cricket history.
A final email lands on top of the massed ranks.
“Every time I get wound up seeing an England side seemingly throwing wickets away in a carefree fashion, I think about players like Jonathan Trott, Marcus Trescothick or Simon Kerrigan, and how the Bazball philosophy came at least in part out of a desire to stop players getting into the kind of state that these men got themselves into. Yes, it could be maddening to watch, it could be seen as disrespectful to the opposition at times and it was easy to make fun of, but I genuinely think it was a laudable approach that came from a good place.”
And that’s as good a place to finish as any. Thank you Tom Atkins, thank you everyone for writing in. And thank you Ben Stokes, for being the most charismatic, thrilling English cricketer of my lifetime. What a badge of honour to have brought pure to so many. May retirement be long and happy.
We’ll be back tomorrow for his final hurrah. Good night!
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Athers: “These great players are not ordinary. He’s had his moments. Andy Flower sent him home from the Lions and that got him into a place where he could make the most of his talent. That first hundred in Australia was an excellent innings that made you think, here is an England cricketer.”
Here on the OBO we were talking about Jacques Kallis. Here is a stat for you – only he and Ben Stokes have made 7000 runs and taken 250 wickets in Tests.
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“Just paused for dinner on the way back from watching my son player cricket (a T20 win for Huntly’s 2s over Abercrombie MasterBlasters with 3 balls to spare, I have no nails left) so my apologies if this has been said already…
”But this must be the final wheezing breaths of Bazball? Ending not with a bang but with a whimper?
”It was very much what was needed when it was introduced but it’s now holding England back. Sad to see Stokes go but hopefully he’ll make himself a nice wee nest egg from the IPL.”
There has been speculation that Baz will go tomorrow, Allan MacDonald, so that really would be farewell to the most thrilling, if at time frustrating – thrillating? period in English cricket. And well played Huntly’s twos.
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“Captain?” types Max Bonnell. “I believe in these circumstances it’s customary to recall Mike Brearley.” He knows how to revitalise a team, and he won’t score a lot fewer runs than last time.”
About the decision: “I spoke to the team this morning. Rooty and Brooky last night. I asked the comms team, you guys come up with a plan and whatever you decide I’m fine with. Always going to be a tactical decision for me to opening the batting on that pitch. I wanted to go out and cause as much chaos as I possibly can. I know we’re four down but we’ve taken a heavy chunk out of this score already. This wicket is getting harder and harder to score on, how Rachin and Daryll played before was gutsy, courageous, got to hold your hand up and say well done.”
“I’m really excited on the future going forward. I’m intending on still playing for Durham and whatever opportunities are out there.”
Best memories: “Winning the 2015 Ashes here. Leading the team out for the first time as official captain, that’s probably the best moment.”
He looks happy.
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There’s a hug from Broad, a handshake with Wardy. They can’t actually ask any questions for a while as the crowd are chanting for him. How are you feeling, asks Wardy?
“Its been an interesting four or five weeks, there’s relief, excitement, happiness, sadness, all of those words. It’s been really tough, someone who I’ve spoken to alot is Joe and he gets it, understands it. Captaincy is the best thing i’ve ever been asked to do, I’ve never begrudged any moment, the greatest honour put on your shoulders as a player. But there’s another side to it all that people don’t understand. My family particularly my wife, it does drain you, affect you in a negative way. Four and a half years, I’ve loved every moment but some times have been harder than others.
“Why now? “The whole Lord’s Test was something that brought back some negative feelings to where I was in my career. Had worked so hard since I’d come back from Australia, maybe burned myself out, was a very strange feeling to go into that game, I gave myself as much time, talked to people, this great man (Broad) being one of them. I gave myself time to think it was a blip – and everyone said when it happens it hits you straight in the face. Putting on my pads at Lord’s was that moment.
“It was the build up to Lord’s. There was another moment when I sat next to Joe in the dressing room. And then [the Rex Rooms] scenario adds to it, but it is never simple with me Wardy and an unfortunate situation over the last two weeks. And being back at Durham over the last two weeks, I found a new lease of life and I couldn’t get that same feeling back here with England.
“Ive been through some rocky times personally, and it might sound quite selfish but it is the best thing for me right now, whether the best thing for the team I don’t know, I hope so.
“I’m excited about what’s to come and going back and playing for my boyhood club.”
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Stokes is now striding across the sward towards the Sky microphones, surrounded by ECB people and to an applauding crowd.
Stumps - England 103-4 need 270 to win
15th over: England 95-4 ( Root 9, Gay 6) Santner. A single from Root means Gay must face, out of position, with minutes to go. Brain frazzling, he plumps for a reverse-sweep first ball and New Zealand consider appealing a thick edge but are out of time. Drives the next ball for four to settle the nerves. Joe Root closes a extraordinary day with a forward defensive. Phew.
14th over: England 95-4 (Root 8, Gay 0) Time for Sears and his taped up finger. Relative calm. Until the wicket. Sears roars.
“One of most moemorable moments of my life,” writes Andy Taylor. “Was following the OBO, and then Ball by Ball, on my phone while being on a ferry crossing Lake Garda.”
”Ben Stokes, it’s been a rare privilege to have witnessed that moment in whatever form. Up there, maybe even surpassing Ashes 81 for me. Thank you”
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WICKET! Duckett c Mitchell b Sears 36 (England 95-4)
Brute of a ball, leaps off the pitch, Duckett could do nothing and Mitchell scoops it up with brilliant gentle hands at slip. In comes Emilio Gay on a pair.
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13th over: England 92-3 (Duckett 35, Root 6) Duckett shimmies and scoops Smith for four, nimble as you like, touch of magic, and Blundell, up to the stumps, crabs and turns his back.
“Evening Tanya,” evening William Lane.
“Who the bloody hell replaces him then? And once we’ve figured out how to fill the Pope-shaped hole at no.3 what to do with Stokes...
“But really, Brook isn’t ready to captain, Root can’t be doing with it (fair enough he’s done his time) and who’s left? It’ll be Brook obviously but isn’t that depressing?
“Not only as captain but as a No.6 and all rounder. Drop Bethell down the order? Bring Pope back (and give him captaincy?) Rehan? Jordan Cox? What the hell do we do?!?.”
I’m not sure I can square the circle. Trying to to think of county captains. Tom Abell? Rory Burns? Jimmy Anderson? How about we bring Adam Hollioake out of retirement at Kent?
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12th over: England 85-3 (Duckett 30, Root 4) Just two brutal fours from Duckett – a scoop and kapow! through point.
11th over: England 77-3 (Duckett 22, Root 4) Joe’s in, we can relax, except he now reverse-scoops Smith for four. Sixteen minutes to go.
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10th over: England 72-3 (Duckett 21, Root 0) Brook fires four through long off, bangs another through cover where Ravindara desperately crawls alongside the wriggling ball but it escapes to hit the boundary boards. And then, perhaps inevitably, holes out .This must be a difficult situation to bat in – buzzing on the emotion of the captain’s retirement, trying to follow his example, but without his particular aura.
”Yeesh, I didn’t know Stokes could evoke so much vitriol from some. So far in the OBO, he’s been called ‘petulant’ (twice), arrogant and unlikeable. I’ve not heard similar coming out of Durham, which suggests that he might be an OK bloke, not that I’ve met him.
“The air of ‘good riddance’ smacks of both short sightedness and short memory. Of course he’s a flawed human being, for a) we all are and b) you don’t play that much with such (well noted) intensity without being wired slightly differently. Have mistakes been made across the entire management team? Yes. Should they be held accountable? At the cost of diminishing his achievements and potential? No.
“I for one will miss the sheer force of willpower, that cleared bars and made me significantly late for an appointment once, huddled over a strangers iPad at a station for that ridiculous innings in 2019.Apologies for the spiky response, but I thought it worth writing.”
Silk and steel welcome, Toby Sims. We followed that innings from a campsite in the south of France My kids jumping in and out of pool between following it on the phones of other English campers.
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WICKET! Brook c Smith b Foulkes 21 (England 72-3)
A pick up and deliver with a fancy bow to fine leg.
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9th over: England 62-2 (Duckett 21, Brook 11) Casual as a man picking his teeth, Brook tonks Smith for six over fine leg, then ramps his next ball for four. On the balcony, Stokes smiles. It’s on.
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8th over: England 50-2 (Duckett 20, Brook 0) There was time for one last brutal, brilliant four through the covers before the curtains closed. Bethell brought in to slog was out not playing a shot. Quite the game for Foulkes who has whipped the script away from England. Out of the way Emilio, Joe, here comes Brook.
“Good evening from the train to Norwich.” Hello Sam Mugford. “I made the smart choice to duck out at the end of the NZ innings becuase obviously England were going to safely bat out the last hour.
“In other news when Nirvana played their last gig in the UK at Reading festival in 1993 I decided to watch Frank Sidebottom in the comedy tent.”
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WICKET! Bethall lbw Foulkes 0 (England 50-2)
Oh dear. No shot from Bethell and the ball thumps into his front pad. He reviews because, because of the emotion probably, but that was going only one way.
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WICKET! Stokes c Mitchell b Foulkes 30 (England 50-1)
The air leaves Trent Bridge. Our captain caught at midwicket. He takes off his helmet, and smiles, salutes the crowd, applauded all the way off the pitch and into the dressing room.
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7th over: England 46-0 (Duckett 20, Stokes 26) Duckett chips Smith for two over midwicket, picks up three through the covers, then four straight down the ground.
In other cricket news, Australia have beaten India in the Women’s World Cup and knocked them out. England will play South African in the semi final, and Australia West Indies.
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6th over: England 36-0 (Duckett 11, Stokes 25) The great disruptor gets four via a backfooted chop, past the diving slip. Duckett plays a straight bat
”Not only is Seaholmes’ view as graceless a valediction as I’ve ever read, it’s also completely counter to my experience – and those of so many others – after watching England Test matches since the days of Edrich and Close.
”An appalling comment. Why did you give it space? What is wrong with people? Modern life is rubbish.” Ah Mark Dawson, there are a proportion of emails like that in my inbox, people have different views. But the vast majority are full of emotional appreciation. As this from James Brough:
“I was going to say, he’s going for a duck or a hundred. Well, it’s not going to be a duck. You wouldnt get Boycott or Atherton opening the batting like this.Did I mention how much I’m going to miss him?”
5th over: England 30-0 (Duckett 10, Stokes 20) Stokes eyes up SMith and sweeps him cleanly, like a dusty corner, over deep square leg for six – falling over in the process. The field is spread by the way, and I imagine and certain panic in New Zealand hearts. Duckett, the old plodder, returns to the strike and the field comes in.
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4th over: England 23-0 (Duckett 10, Stokes 13) Stokes is, I suppose, technically dropped as a ball from Foulkes bellows off the pitch and scratches past Stokes bat and keeper’s gloves – but it was an impossible chance. Duckett inside edges four past his stumps.
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3rd over: England 18-0 (Duckett 6, Stokes 12) Smith again. A gentle turn off the hips by Duckett brings four. And we all breathe.
There was an earlier comment suggesting Stokes (and Botham) were the only “super” all rounders to win games with bat or ball. I understand the fascination with Stokes, but to leave Kallis out of that is extraordinary. Not to mention Ashwin, Jadeja, Shakib, even Sanath. And in the narrow definition of players winning at least 1 game - tests i assume - with bat or ball, Holder, Root and Clarke have done it too. Sam Curran did it to India. I’m sure there are others ..” I think Bhaskar Agrawal, it was a comment written in the emotion of the moment. As for Kallis – he is the anti Stokes-Botham-Kapil-Imran – substance over style.
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2nd over: England 13-0 (Duckett 2, Stokes 11) DROPPED! From O’Rourke’s first ball, Stokes chips him and the ball screams past the fingers of O’Rourke’s right hand in his follow through and nearly flies to the fielder at mid off. Just another chapter of a surreal day. O’Rourke goes off the pitch – with a webbing injury’ and Foulkes must finish the over. Already Tickner has been substituted and Sears isn’t on the pitch after hurting his finger batting. Oh, and here goes Stokes –gallop and change, BANG- six down the ground. A paddle scoop to finish the over brings a single
Not everyone is bathing in ginger captain love. Hello Richard Seaholme “I’m glad he’s going. He’s built a team and a culture in his own image. Arrogant, unlikeable, and disdainful of being asked reasonable questions. No accountability across the whole set up; forget Key and McCullum, it starts and ends with Stokes. If he was capable of showing even the smallest amount of grace, he’d have quit in Sydney. I’ll paraphrase Ben Duckett, when he summed up this woeful period in English cricket better than anyone. Resignations: the more the better.”
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1st over: England 2-0 (Duckett 1, Stokes 1) Well Stokes did look in good touch against Northamptonshire last weekend…and he has never got out opening the batting for England. Nathan Smith, curling moustache, runs in and his first ball is nasty and hits Duckett on the bottom hand. Stokes advances down the wicket to his first ball and smashes the ball to mid off. He tries to reverse the next, misses it and falls over. And gets a single off the last with a nudge to third man. On the balcony, his daughter watches with open mouth. Me too.
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Stokes opens the batting
First Ben Stokes, then Ben Duckett. Quite the high-risk statement this, through the NZ guard of honour to the middle.
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My inbox is overflowing so apologies if I don’t manage to wade through to your email. New Zealand are already out on the field, huddling, if thats a verb. Ben Stokes is padding up.
A hundred for Mitchell! New Zealand declare on 288-9 - England need 373 to win
94th over: New Zealand 288-9 (Mitchell 100, Sears 19) Mitchell anchors four behind square go to 99 and there’s the hundred with a darted single. He roars with … pleasure, pain, relief, pride? –what an excellent, crabbed, brave, hard-working innings- 241 balls, ten fours, one six… and there’s the declaration! And running off the pitch alongside Ben Duckett is Ben Stokes…
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93rd over: New Zealand 283-9 (Mitchell 95, Sears 19) A no ball for Jofra for three behind square on the leg side.
“So, during this low-key series, we said shock good-byes to two generational players- Kane and Ben. The world cricket is poorer for it. Just like Ben, Kane also deserved a proper send-off.” Very true Prakhar Gupta, though I think Kane liked it just the low key way it was.
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92nd over: New Zealand 279-9 (Mitchell 92, Sears 19) Is this worth risking Sears’ fingers for?
”…. no Sobers or Benaud on the great allrounder list? Say it ain’t so, Tanya!”
”I remember being taken to the Oval many many moons ago, and a great sigh went up around the ground as we entered… Sobers had just got out, so I never did get to see him bat.” But you were in his presence Adrian Goldman, there’s a certificate for that. There must be others who are glaringly obvious – Miller?
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WICKET! O'Rourke lbw Atkinson 0 (New Zealand 279-9)
Very much absolutely out! But the third umpire has a look, O’Rourke is almost at the boundary rope waiting for the decision, which is: off you pop. The ball actually skimmed the stumps too, though the bails didn’t come off. And Ben Sears comes back on thanks to excellent work in the NZ finger repair factory.
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Sears injured and off the pitch
91st over: New Zealand 278-8 (Mitchell 92, O’Rourke 0) Jofra time. Mitchell takes a blind pull at his first ball and gets hit in the midrift somewhere. Calls for a new helmet to replace the one he’d just put on. He’s still not happy, making running adjustments to the new one at the non-striker’s end. Ben Sears has had another blow to his finger as some extra bounce from Archer spits up and cracks the bottom hand…. and he actually goes off the pitch -potentially very bad news for New Zealand. Mitchell finishes the over with a legside haul for four.
”Like Ed Smyth, I have been having a punishing time,” writes John Swan, “in my case emptying the house I grew up in after my mother’s death. Thought I was all cried out and now this... Oh, *Ben*...” The very best OBO wishes go with you John.
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90th over: New Zealand 269-8 (Mitchell 85, Sears 18) Remarkably, Mitchell is ok to carry on, but they have to replace the ball. Atkinson lets rip an unplayable delivery that flames past Sears.
Hello H North. ”I think the comment from Nigam (over 83) is a bit off. Two come to mind immediately: Kallis at Karachi in 2007 and against the West Indies at Cape Town in 1999. In the first he scored 255 and SA won by 160, which seems pretty conclusive to me…”
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90.4 overs: New Zealand 269-8 (Mitchell 84, Sears 18) Slam! Mitchell advances and dambusters four straight off Atkinson. A gorgeous delivery passes the outside edge, then – YIKES - Atkinson hits Mitchell hard as he mini steps, mini steps down the pitch, the ball lifts and as Mitchell crouches it slams him in the grill and he drops straight down. He’s up straight away but the physio is on immediately.
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New ball taken
89th over: New Zealand 265-8 (Mitchell 80, Sears 18) At last England take the new ball, but still no breakthrough for Tongue who is wicketless so far in this Test.
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88th over: New Zealand 262-8 (Mitchell 79, Sears 16) Bashir wheels through a quick set.
Thank you so much to Andrew Crossley for an on-the-spot report from Trent Bridge
”In response to your question: there was no announcement, but news filtered through on phones, and led to an immediate and spontaneous ovation…which continued into the ball in which he got his wicket.
Lovely “I was there” moment. A steady day, but absorbing, and fun to see Joe Root conducting the crowd like an impresario.”
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87th over: New Zealand 260-8 (Mitchell 78, Sears 15) Another four over the slips off Tongue, rather elegant by Sears. And to finish the over Mitchell twists and hauls SIX over midwicket to the accompaniment of boring, boring Mitchell.
“I can’t quite believe that Ben Stokes is leaving the international stage, still in his prime, at least as a bowler and captain,” writes Colum Fordham. “If it weren’t for the ‘incident’ after the first test, I think we’d’ve seen a few more series from arguably our greatest player ever. The innings to win the World Cup was magnificent but the match I will remember most was the third test against Australia which I watched with my son Simo on holiday in Cilento. I remember his and my disbelief at Stokes’ strokes. So whilst he was -and is - a great all-rounder, his most remarkable performances have been with the bat. I would disagree with James Bough. On his day, Ben Stokes was a truly great batsman. Maybe he has one last innings in him.”
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86th over: New Zealand 249-8 (Mitchell 72, Sears 10) A thin outside edge from Sears off Bashir zips past a diving Brook and down to the rope. A pocketful of singles.
Chris Brennan has a spiky response to the news. “Great cricketer but rubbish retirement. Can’t help feeling that this is a petulant response to being dropped for second test. Lost a bit of respect for the man, he abandons his team with warning. To release the news in the middle of a match just shows he thinks he’s bigger than the team and the job of captain. Timing to make biggest impact. Petulant.”
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85th over: New Zealand 241-8 (Mitchell 69, Sears 5) Josh Tongue with the old ball as our heads are elsewhere. Mitchell slices four over slip – a toe on the accelerator.
“I have been having a complete shit of a week. Seeing Stokes go is not the news I wanted to see, but I hope he can find the peace he deserves. And maybe a hug from Jack Leach - the best batting partner he ever had. Tears, Ed Smyth.”
Beautifully said. And a hug being sent your way to Ed. Hope next week is a better one.
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Evening session
83rd over: New Zealand 236-8 (Mitchell 64, Sears 5) Is anyone at the ground? Did they announce Stokes’ retirement, or put it on the big screen? He gets a guard of honour from the England players as he walks back onto the pitch. We are still going with the old ball, but Stokes has been persuaded to give himself a break. Bashir now, enormously long legs, luxuriant hair. Mitchell hits a ball in anger, but only gets a single.
“With the retirement of Ben Stokes, we have lost what I call one of the few super all rounders in the history of cricket,” writes Nigam Nuggehalli . “I define a super all rounder as a player who has won games for their country both as a bowler and as a batsman. This would include players like Stokes and Botham. Can we think of anyone else? I don’t think Imran or Kapil or Kallis won a Test match for their batting alone.” Hmmm, Nigam, I would need some research time – but surely Kallis did? I wonder if Rob Smyth is awake?
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Hello Seth Levine.
“Excellent package on Stokes’ career by Sky, set to the words of Teddy Roosevelt’s “man in the arena” speech. They must have had it prepared, like the Beeb’s announcement of the death of the Queen. Less Operation London Bridge. More Operation Trent Bridge.”
It was super wasn’t it.
Stuart Broad has just pointed out that tickets are free for Trent Bridge tomorrow…
The OBO mailbox is filling up with tear-stained notes.
“Afternoon Tanya,” lovely to hear from you Stef in Peterborough.
“I’m stunned by the Ben Stokes news and very sad. I can only imagine he’s had a falling out with those above. Wouid he reconsider to carry on playing but just give up the captaincy?
It’s a strange decision at a strange time but ultimately jusf very sad. Thanks Ben for all you’ve done and wishing you well.”
It’s really sad, when he has so much more to give. And seemed to be enjoying himself so much – even at Durham last week. And he’s worked so hard to come back from injuries. And, and…
And Neil Blackshaw.
“Just switched on the catch up and hit in the stomach—BS retiring. Quite emotional. What a warrior he has been for England . Cricket through and through. I’m sad and was at the time that this last short period did not seem to treat him well ; he looks stressed at Trent Bridge. One of the greatest- cliche but oh so true.”
Here’s the video of Ben Stokes informing his England teammates of his retirement earlier today.
TEA - New Zealand lead by 318
82nd over: New Zealand 234-8 (Mitchell 63, Sears 4) Fifty-four runs in the session, Stokes bowling unchanged from lunch. He leads the team off, a shocked ground rising as one.
“Oh, bloody hell.” Well exactly, James Brough.
“What a loss to England. No more 10 over spells. No more ridiculous catches. No more murderous sixes. I don’t think he was a great batsman, but he played great innings - that double hundred against South Africa, the Ashes hundred at Headingley and the one at Lords in the Bairstow game were innings that so few players could produce. And then his captaincy - how many England captains have had such an effect on their side. I’ll miss him. I really will.”
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81st over: New Zealand 225-8 (Mitchell 61, Sears 1) That was a spine-tingling over, powered by liquid emotion. Stokes looked overcome in the celebration of the wicket, hugging Brook for a double breath and more. The roar from the crowd would rival the winnings runs at Headingley 2019. We watch a video of Stokes speaking to the dressing room and telling them before play. Jacob Bethell sitting next to him looks stunned.
“It looks as if Ben Stokes is taking a leaf out of Stuart Broad’s book, by announcing his retirement from international cricket,” writes John Starbuck. “As I type this, he takes another wicket, proving that going out on a high is the best option, but we shall, of course, miss him a lot.” They certainly will.
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WICKET! Foulkes c Brook b Stokes 6 (New Zealand 224-8)
Ian Botham, who are you? The news of Stokes’ retirement had just hit the crowd, who had risen to applaud and shout his name, when, with the first ball of his over, he persudes Foulkes to flash and Brook picks up a stunner at second slip.
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Ben Stokes to retire from England duty after third Test
Ben Stokes has announced his retirement as England Men’s Test Captain and from international cricket. Stokes will end his England career at the Third Rothesay Test Match at Trent Bridge.
Richard Thompson, ECB Chair, said:
“Ben Stokes leaves the international game as one of England’s greatest ever cricketers and one of the defining figures of his generation. His performances under pressure, his relentless competitiveness and his ability to produce the extraordinary when it matters most have given me and millions of other fans memories that will endure forever.
“Whether inspiring victory in the biggest moments - not least driving England to World Cup wins in 2019 and 2022 and his heroic Ashes innings at Headingley - or leading the Test team with courage and conviction, Ben has been a talismanic figure in English cricket.
“Beyond his remarkable achievements on the field, his performances have inspired many youngsters to embrace cricket with positivity and belief. We are losing a batsman, a bowler, a captain and a talisman. On behalf of the ECB, I want to thank Ben for everything he has given to our sport and wish him and his family every success and happiness for the future.”
Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said:
“Ben Stokes has made an immeasurable contribution to English cricket, not only through his exceptional skill as one of the world’s finest all-rounders, but through the commitment, resilience and passion he has demonstrated throughout his international career. His influence has extended far beyond statistics - inspiring teammates, supporters and young cricketers around the world through his leadership and unwavering desire to win. We are enormously grateful for his service to England and congratulate him on an extraordinary international career. His contribution to the game will be celebrated for many years to come.”
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81st over: New Zealand 224-7 (Mitchell 61, Foulkes 6) They don’t take the new ball. Atkinson continues, Smith still up to the stumps. And oh my, here is some news …
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80th over: New Zealand 222-7 (Mitchell 60, Foulkes 5)A tenth on the trot for Stokes, not a pinchable inch, or fraction of an inch, of extra flesh on him. Worryingly for England one scuttles along the ground. “Boring, boring Mitchell shout the crowd “– as New Zealand opt for a quick single, Foulkes slides at least a metre along the ground on his belly to ensure he makes his ground. A peach of a ball to finish, nips away from the dusty Foulkes.
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79th over: New Zealand 221-7 (Mitchell 59, Foulkes 5) Kids, this is creeket stipped to the bare bones. Mitchell has thrown away his shots and embraced the defensive nurdle. Some super keeping by Smith standing up to the stumps, as the ball riccochets off the pitch and into the gloves.
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78th over: New Zealand 220-7 (Mitchell 58, Foulkes 5) A ninth over of this spell for Stokes, as a breeze ruffles his shirt. Smith and Brook thinks there has been at tickle from Foulkes on a caught behind. Stokes isn’t convinced but after Smith’s tip-off for the last wicket, he goes upstairs. No prizes this time – it wasn’t bat that squeaked, it was thigh.
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77th over: New Zealand 218-7 (Mitchell 58, Foulkes 3) A quick single prevents a third successive maiden and takes the lead to 300. Atkinson, brown arms, white wrist band, tiptoes in. There is a burst of energetic football style chanting from the crowd but it soon fades. Mitchell and Foulkes sprint another two. Michael Vaughan thinks Josh Tongue isn’t moving well in the field.
76th over: New Zealand 215-7 (Mitchell 56, Foulkes 2) The new ball is available in another four overs. Until then, Stokes goes again, the crowd somnolent in the Sunday afternoon sun. Mitchell faces out another maiden, the last ball beats him past the outside edge, twisting out of the cracks.
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Free tickets at Trent Bridge tomorrow
75th over: New Zealand 215-7 (Mitchell 56, Foulkes 2) A maiden from Atkinson.
All power to Trent Bridge, who are letting spectators in for free tomorrow for what could be a thriller of a last day. Supporters can claim up to four free tickets per person by visiting tickets.trentbridge.co.uk.
If you already have seats for day five, you should use your existing tickets, but will receive a full and automatic refund in the next ten days.
For accessible seating, contact the ticket office on 0115 899 0300. Lines are open until 30 minutes after the close of play today, and re-open at 9am tomorrow.
“Supporters are encouraged to make voluntary donations to the Trent Bridge Community Trust– the charity that delivers a variety of projects that have a profound and meaningful impact on lives across Nottinghamshire – should they wish to do so. Donations can be made at trentbridge.co.uk/trust.”
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74th over: New Zealand 215-7 (Mitchell 56, Foulkes 2) Stokes, over number 21. Arms pistonning, hair shorn, slim face grimacing in effort. Mitchell continues his tortoise innings – he has hit three boundaries all day and he isn’t about to let loose again any time soon.
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73rd over: New Zealand 211-7 (Mitchell 53, Foulkes 1) Thanks Jim! Time to rest that weary head. Not much to report from Atkinson’s over, except the umpire had a little word with Mitchell who put his huge boot down the pitch as he thought about launching off on a run.
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72nd over: New Zealand 210-7 (Mitchell 52, Foulkes 1) The game is ticking towards what could be a thrilling final day and a half denouement. New Zealand lead by 294 runs, England need to take three more wickets before they can start their attempt at a fourth innings run chase.
Time for me to handover to Tanya Aldred to take you through to stumps. Goodbye!
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71st over: New Zealand 209-7 (Mitchell 51, Foulkes 1) Archer strides in with three slips in position. England have bowled really well today without much luck, New Zealand haven’t pulled away out of sight and that’s largely because they’ve been tied down by tight lines and a more tricksy day four wicket.
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70th over: New Zealand 208-7 (Mitchell 51, Foulkes 1) How will Daryl Mitchell play now? Will he chance his arm and carve some punishing boundaries to re-divert the pain back on England? He has Zak Foulkes for company who can certainly hold a bat, he used to open in first class cricket as a younger man. Don’t shoot the messenger!
69th over: New Zealand 206-7 (Mitchell 50, Foulkes 0) Scintillating wicket maiden from Archer who now has 4-40 from 17 overs. England believe they can chase these runs, of course they do. Whether they can or not on this wearing pitch we shall see, and we’ll witness their attempt a bit sooner that it looked about 20 minutes go.
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WICKET! Nathan Smith c Smith b Archer 1 (New Zealand 206-7)
Snorter from Jofra to get rid of Smith. Pace, bounce, edge, catch, GONE!
Jofra’s done sammink!
68th over: New Zealand 206-6 (Mitchell 50, Smith 1) Daryl Mitchell goes to an extremely patient and important half century. Nathan Smith joins him and is off the mark with a clip to leg. The crowd are up and England sense this is the moment…
WICKET! Mitchell Santner c Smith b Stokes 0 (New Zealand 205-6)
The England players mob Jamie Smith and the crowd make the biggest noise of the day as Santner is given out on review. Stokes drew the forward poke with a scrambled seam delivery that he thought passed the edge of the bat but Jamie Smith convinced him that Santner got a tickle. The review is called for and sure enough there is a murmur on snicko!
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67th over: New Zealand 204-5 (Mitchell 49, Santner 0) Mitch Santner joins Mitchell in the middle. New Zealand’s lead is at 289. You’re thinking about the last time aren’t you?
WICKET! Tom Blundell c Gay b Archer 18 (New Zealand 204-5)
Blundell edges Archer wide of a diving Jacob Bethell at second slip and then swivels a pull shot fine for four more. Gone! Oh my England needed that, Blundell pulls again but in the air and down to Emilio Gay at long leg. The catch is well held by Gay who has fielded really well in this innings, he turns to the crowd behind him and gives it the big one! England still believe!
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66th over: New Zealand 196-4 (Mitchell 49, Blundell 10) Ben Stokes goes full Richard Hadlee starfish in his appeal after hitting Mitchell on the pad with one that moves back late. It hit the big fella above the knee roll though and Stokes knew in his heart it was heading over the top. Mitchell’s wait for a fifty goes on, he’s been on 49 for 17 balls.
65th over: New Zealand 195-4 (Mitchell 49, Blundell 9) Blundell gets his first boundary with an angled poke wide of point. England have seen so much of this pair batting in the last few years, this must be up there with the most painful of those many passages of play.
64th over: New Zealand 190-4 (Mitchell 49, Blundell 4) Just a single to Blundell off Stokes. New Zealand’s run rate is only just above 2.4 rpo this innings. It’s been a slow, griping death of a day for England so far.
63rd over: New Zealand 189-4 (Mitchell 49, Blundell 3) Archer keeps Mitchell honest with a maiden, another ball scuttles low but England aren’t getting any breaks at the moment.
62nd over: New Zealand 189-4 (Mitchell 49, Blundell 3) How did that miss!? Stokes sends down a length ball and it just dies in the surface, Blundell tries to poke at it desperately but there’s nothing he can do about it at all as it seems to shave the outside of off stump. That is not a good sign for England who have to bat last on this surface. New Zealand’s lead is up to 273.
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61st over: New Zealand 184-4 (Mitchell 47, Blundell 3) More pain for England after the interval as Blundell squirts an edge away off Archer for three runs to get off the mark. Stokes is going to bowl from the Radcliffe Road End, can he find a magic spell?
The players return to the middle in bright sunshine, apologies for the lack of updates during the lunch interval, I was collared by Daniel Norcross to talk cricket books on Test Match Special. La-di-dah.
Jofra Archer is going to start us off after lunch from the Stuart Broad End, England need some wickets pronto, otherwise things might get a wee bit grim. Lawrence Booth and Nick Hoult penning an elegiac appendices to their Bazball book as we speak?
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Lunch - New Zealand 180-4, lead by 264 runs.
Atkinson finishes the final over before lunch, England are clinging on at Trent Bridge. Big afternoon session incoming.
59th over: New Zealand 180-4 (Mitchell 46, Blundell) Bashir celebrated that wicket with real gusto, a double fist pump and roar to the heavens. Blundell joins Mitchell on the stroke of lunch.
WICKET!!! Rachin Ravindra lbw b Shoaib Bashir 94 (New Zealand 180-4)
Shoaib Bashir gets the breakthrough! Scudding one on to Rachin Ravindra who is deep in the crease and pinned bang in front. He reviews more in hope than expectation and it is three big reds on the review. He has to go six runs short of a century but it has still been a brilliant innings and potentially a match winning one for his side.
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58th over: New Zealand 178-3 (Ravindra 93, Mitchell 46) That hurts even more. Atkinson slides one down the leg side and gives Jamie Smith no chance, four byes to the score, New Zealand’s lead stretches to 263, that’s a lot on this wicket.
57th over: New Zealand 174-3 (Ravindra 93, Mitchell 46) Ravindra moves into the 90s with a whipcrack flick off his pads for four, the ball timed to within an inch of its life. An edge along the ground through the vacant second region hurts England still further.
56th over: New Zealand 164-3 (Ravindra 83, Mitchell 46) The crowd clap and cheer, willing England to get the wicket. Oh that hurts! An edge from Ravindra doesn’t carry but rather scuttles through to Jamie Smith. The lead
55th over: New Zealand 163-3 (Ravindra 82, Mitchell 46) Joe Root gets the crowd ooohing and ahhing with some exuberant clapping and even some aeroplane wings as Tongue runs in. England trying everything to get the breakthrough. Ravindra blocks it all out and taps into the leg side for a single.
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54th over: New Zealand 162-3 (Ravindra 81, Mitchell 46) Atkinson in the groove, just a single glided away by Ravindra who moves into the eighties. This has been some knock from the curly haired strokemaker.
53rd over: New Zealand 161-3 (Ravindra 80, Mitchell 46) Tongue thunders in from the Stuey B End with his wardrobe shoulders and piston knees. Mitchell pulls out of his stance a couple of times in the over as someone is moving behind the bowler’s arm… I’m not casting nasturtiums but I do know that Timbo, Lester, Cupsies, Margate Pete and The Bear are sat somewhere near there. You tell me.
Ravindra whips a couple off his toes into the leg side. England’s nose getting perilously close to the dirt here at Trent Bridge.
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52nd over: New Zealand 158-3 (Ravindra 78, Mitchell 46) No need for any semaphore from Southee, Stokes takes his leave and Gus Atkinson comes on for a spell. Atkinson is accurate, landing it on a pocket square on the line of off stump. Mitchell gets his head down and blocks out a maiden.
51st over: New Zealand 158-3 (Ravindra 78, Mitchell 46) “Ali G? Dunno” writes Frank Stark “…but Mitchell seems to be working on his moves with a kind of circular crab dance to go with the Steve Smith semaphore each time he turns down a run.”
Mitchell is really knuckling down here, there is an almost performative nature to his defence at the moment but he is a very dangerous player and if he decides to open the shoulders could take this game well out of England’s reach in no time at all. Gulp.
Sure enough, as I type, Mitchell gets on the front foot and drives powerfully through cover for four. Gulp indeed.
50th over: New Zealand 152-3 (Ravindra 77, Mitchell 41) Stokes into his 8th over… will we see Tim Southee come out of the England dressing room and tell him ‘enough now Benjamin’ a la Lord’s v India last year?
49th over: New Zealand 151-3 (Ravindra 76, Mitchell 41) Mitchell plays Tongue with an angled bat and it flies away wide of the solitary slip for a welcome New Zealand boundary. England are clinging on to this match, the lead is up to 235, realistically they need cause a collapse in the next hour or so but Mitchell and Ravindra are batting with steely resolution. The boundary brings up the hundred partnership for the Kiwis, they were 12-2 and 51-3 remember. Top effort from this pair, proper criggit.
48th over: New Zealand 146-3 (Ravindra 75, Mitchell 37) Stokes into his seventh over of this spell, he will not want to give the ball to someone else without a wicket to show for his efforts but he might well have to. Just a single to Ravindra clipped into the leg side and that’s the first hour done. It belongs to New Zealand although they have only added 26 runs so haven’t damaged England too much.
47th over: New Zealand 145-3 (Ravindra 74, Mitchell 37) A loud groan rattles round Trent Bridge as Mitchell edges a length ball from Tongue through a vacant second slip. In the early days of his captaincy tenure Stokes would have had a man in there, definitely. In this essay I will…
46th over: New Zealand 141-3 (Ravindra 74, Mitchell 33) Stokes is full, zeroing in on the stumps and front pad but Mitchell is up to the task. He clips off his hip for a single and Ravindra blocks out the rest. Archer is going to have a rest, here comes Josh Tongue.
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45th over: New Zealand 140-3 (Ravindra 74, Mitchell 32) Shot! Another satisfying sonic boom off the blade of Ravindra as he middles a whip off his pads for four off a disgruntled Archer. England are desperate for a wicket but it ain’t happening for them out there at the moment.
44th over: New Zealand 134-3 (Ravindra 69, Mitchell 31) Smith remains up to the stumps to Stokes, the pitch is now starting to go up and down and the keeper ends up wearing one on the helmet to a ball that spits off a length like an angry camel. A single to Ravindra through midwicket. This pair have done really well to not give England a sniff so far this morning and they’ve eked the lead up to 218 runs, a fourth innings run chase looks to be getting more challenging with every passing minute.
43rd over: New Zealand 133-3 (Ravindra 68, Mitchell 31) Another maiden from Archer as the the sun begins to peep out at Trent Bridge.
42nd over: New Zealand 133-3 (Ravindra 68, Mitchell 31) Shot! Ravindra slaps a short ball from Stokes to the boundary with a flourish. His bat sounds incredible.
“The heat is on McCullum and Key and I understand why” writes an empathetic Steve Hudson.
“Mistakes have been made, especially in the last 12 months. And coaches do have a shelf life and maybe Baz has reached the end of his. I do think that people forget very quickly how dreadful England looked in the few years running up to his appointment, and how brilliant, how exhilarating were the performances once he took over. For two years they were just about the most entertaining and successful England team I’ve ever seen. Please let’s remember the good times when we wish him away.”
41st over: New Zealand 127-3 (Ravindra 63, Mitchell 30) Archer is probing but there’s no breakthrough for England in the first half hour of play, Mitchell sees out a maiden.
John Starbuck twists the knife…
“Going by your Preamble, it appears that The Guardian doesn’t impose a curfew on OBO-writers’ drinking… yet.”
40th over: New Zealand 127-3 (Ravindra 63, Mitchell 30) Jamie Smith calls for the helmet and comes up to the stumps to Stokes. Ouch! Stokes gets one to lift sharply and it prangs Mitchell on the elbow. That’s gonna hurt. The magic spray is run out and there’s a brief delay. Stokes is bowling at 86mph so Smith is going to need his wits about him. Mitchell takes a quick single into the leg side, good batting.
39th over: New Zealand 125-3 (Ravindra 62, Mitchell 29) Archer from the Stuart Broad End, he’s up to the mid to high eighties on the speed gun and gets a nasty ball to lift and smash Mitchell on the hand. The batter wrings it out and briefly resembles Ali G as he does so. Mitchell drops into the leg side and gets off strike. Ravindra clips off his hip to make it two singles off the over.
How’s everyone doing out there? England need wickets…
38th over: New Zealand 123-3 (Ravindra 61, Mitchell 28) Stokes is over the wicket to Ravindra, Trent Bridge shrouded in cloud and it is mercifully cooler than the last few days. A decent morning for bowling you’d think. Ravindra is watchful and Stokes peels off an accurate maiden.
Daryl Accone comes out playing his Sunday morning shots:
“Andy Bull’s piece asks whether the England and Wales Cricket Board can afford to fire McCullum given the compensation in his contract of £1-million or thereabouts. More pertinent is whether the board can afford not to sack him. Never in the field of Test cricket have so many owed so much pain to so few; indeed, to one person. Neither Puff the Magic Dragon nor Harry Potter, Baz rather should go down in the annals of coaching as a poor simulacrum of Ted Lasso.”
37th over: New Zealand 123-3 (Ravindra 61, Mitchell 28) Archer pins Daryl Mitchell on the crease and England go up en masse… Given out! Mitchell consults Ravindra and then calls for the review. It hits him above the knee roll and is GOING OVER the top by an inch. Decision overturned on DRS and Daryl Mitchell does not his his joy/relief. Have we ever seen a player celebrate a DRS call in such a way? Archer beats him outside off stump to complete a good first over. England thought they had the early wicket but not yet, not yet.
36th over: New Zealand 122-3 (Ravindra 60, Mitchell 28) Stokes beats Daryl Mitchell with a full ball outside off stump that jags away late. Ooosht! That kept low! A ball of similar length then squirts a few inches off the ground after pitching, we might well see some more misbehaviour from this wicket today. Mitchell collects two runs through the covers and that’s the first over. Here comes Jofra Archer.
Ben Stokes is going to start with the ball for England, cometh the BIG FIRST HOUR…
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The players head out to the middle the the strains of Jerusalem. No hangovers out there… you’d hope (!) A fair few bleary eyed folk shuffling around the ground though, which made me feel a lot better about myself.
Andy Bull laments England’s current situation:
Simon Burnton dipped his quill on Kiwi super sub Zak Foulkes:
We’ve got about five minutes until the start of play, just enough time to catch up on yesterday’s action. It was New Zealand’s day, that’s for sure:
Rachin Ravindra looked in ominously good form yesterday, particularly at the start of his innings where he hit some pristine strokes to wrestle any momentum back from England.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to day four of the deciding Test between England and New Zealand from Trent Bridge. It’s balmy and bright, the players are on the outfield going through their motions. I’m in the press box going through my emotions. Am I late starting this blog because I’m a wee bit dusty this morning. I couldn’t possible comment… but any typos are entirely deliberate, it’s all part of the process.
New Zealand lead by 204 runs with seven second innings wickets in hand.
It’s been said before but… BIG FIRST HOUR this morning*.
Please do get in touch, it would be nice to have some help you on board for what is a very big day in English cricket.
*For all of us
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