Ben Stokes has concluded his Test cricket career, with his final match against New Zealand at Trent Bridge ending in a 160-run defeat for England. The all-rounder, who recently turned 35, had previously hinted at his retirement, stating that his teammate Jamie Smith would be playing for longer than him. His decision to step away from the long form of the game comes after a period of dedicating himself entirely to Test cricket, having not played white-ball cricket for the past two years.
Stokes’s final appearance saw him bowl an eight-over spell on Friday, taking three wickets. His last year in Test cricket included five-wicket hauls against India and Australia, contributing 34 Test wickets at an average of 25. With the bat, his 14th and final hundred was scored on a pitch at Old Trafford. He finished the Ashes series with a strike rate of 37.
A Career in Numbers and Impact
Throughout his career, Ben Stokes has been known for his impactful performances. One notable moment includes scoring two runs off his first 66 balls at Headingley in 2019 before accelerating to an unbeaten 135. In the World Cup final that same summer, he reached a half-century before scoring 34 runs off his next 17 balls at Lord’s. His first Test hundred came on a Waca pitch during the 2013/14 Ashes tour.
His prime period is often identified as 2019-20, during which he was named Player of the Series against Australia at home and then South Africa away. Over a two-year span, he averaged more than 50 with the bat and less than 30 with the ball in Tests. During his captaincy, he did not bowl for seven consecutive Tests at one point. However, after undergoing hamstring surgery, he surpassed Bob Willis for the most Test wickets as England captain. Jacques Kallis is noted as the only other player with over 250 wickets and 7,000 runs in Tests.
In shorter formats, Stokes was less central as a bowler, particularly during a match against the West Indies in 2016. While he found a role at number five for Eoin Morgan’s 50-over team, he sought to define his position in the 20-over side. He recorded his only T20 International half-century in a World Cup final in Melbourne, having been selected for the 2022 squad as a specialist all-rounder.
Durham’s Reaction and Future Plans
Ryan Campbell, the head coach at Durham, expressed that the club was appreciative of Ben Stokes‘s positive comments about his time with the county. Stokes had mentioned enjoying his time playing for Durham in a County Championship game against Northamptonshire while he was suspended for the second Test, noting it had reignited his passion for the sport.
Campbell and the Durham players learned of Stokes’s retirement decision during their T20 victory over Middlesex on Sunday. The coach has since communicated with Stokes regarding his availability for Durham in the One-Day Cup, especially since he is not part of a team in The Hundred. There are six rounds remaining in the County Championship, which is set to resume in August, with Durham currently leading Division Two by 32 points. Campbell indicated that Stokes was scheduled to participate in the One-Day Cup and suggested that he might also play in some Championship matches for Durham.
Despite some speculation about a potential return to England duty for next summer’s Ashes, Campbell believes that this marks the end of Stokes’s international career, which spanned nearly 15 years. With over 7,000 Test runs and 258 wickets, Stokes leaves the game as a highly regarded all-rounder.
England’s Recent Performance
England’s defeat to New Zealand in the Test series, which concluded with a 160-run loss at Trent Bridge, saw New Zealand secure a 2-1 series victory. This result marks England’s seventh Test defeat in nine matches, a sequence that includes a loss to India at The Oval last August and an Ashes campaign last winter.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain has called for more directness from coach Brendon McCullum following the series defeat. Hussain highlighted that England has lost seven of their last nine Test matches. The series results were: England won the First Test at Lord’s by 115 runs, New Zealand won the Second Test at The Kia Oval by 253 runs, and New Zealand won the Third Test at Trent Bridge by 160 runs.
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Source: theguardian.com
Adam Rutherford is a Senior Football Correspondent at News-UK. He spent his early career filing match reports across the North West. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Manchester, he coaches a youth team and watches grassroots football. “Every transfer window hides a dozen real stories.”
