New Zealand near series victory as Ben Stokes bids...

By Ishaan Kapoor — 29 June 2026 — 4 min read

Stokes’ final international appearance

Ben Stokes‘ final international appearance saw New Zealand on the verge of a series victory against England at Trent Bridge on Sunday. England concluded the fourth day at 103-4, requiring an additional 270 runs to secure a 2-1 series win after New Zealand declared their second innings at 288-9. The match marks the end of Stokes’ captaincy era.

Stokes announced his retirement during a lengthy afternoon bowling spell and subsequently promoted himself to open the batting, aiming for a victory target of 373. He struck Zak Foulkes for a six over his head in the 11th ball of the innings, marking the earliest an England player has hit a six in a Test match. He hit another six off Nathan Smith in the fourth over before being dismissed by Foulkes for 30 runs off 20 balls, receiving a standing ovation.

Following Stokes’ departure, Jacob Bethell was out for a duck four balls later. Harry Brook, a potential successor to Stokes as Test captain, also fell for 21 runs off nine balls after hitting his first ball for a six, 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 strong position

Daryl Mitchell of New Zealand scored an unbeaten 100 runs off 241 balls, achieving his sixth Test century despite enduring several blows. He hit ten fours and one six during his nearly seven-hour stay at the crease. Sears, who had retired hurt with a finger injury, returned to bat after the ninth wicket fell to help Mitchell reach his milestone. Earlier, Sears was part of a crucial 129-run fourth-wicket partnership with Rachin Ravindra, who scored 94 runs.

Ravindra noted that the team knew they had to absorb pressure, and their efforts paid off, particularly with Mitchell’s performance. He also praised the bowlers, stating that securing four wickets by the close of play was a desirable outcome.

A career defined by resilience

Stokes’ 15-year international career has been characterised by resilience, passion, and an ability to perform under pressure. He has often delivered crucial performances with both bat and ball, earning a reputation as a significant player in high-stakes matches. His career includes several memorable moments.

One such moment was his maiden Test century against Australia in Perth in 2013 during the Ashes. At 22 years old, Stokes scored 120 runs, forming key partnerships with Ian Bell (99 runs) and Matt Prior (76 runs). Although England lost the Test and the series, this performance marked his emergence on the international stage.

In 2016, during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Delhi, Stokes delivered a crucial bowling spell. He took 3 wickets for 26 runs, including 11 dot balls, contributing significantly to restricting New Zealand’s strong batting lineup. England went on to win the match and secure a place in the final.

GettyImages-518169898 Credit: icc-cricket.com

Another notable performance was his 6 wickets for 22 runs against the West Indies at Lord’s in 2017. This spell dismantled the West Indies’ batting order and earned him a place on both the batting and bowling honours boards. He also scored a half-century in the same match, contributing to England’s nine-wicket victory and series win.

Stokes’ unbeaten 84 runs against New Zealand in the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final at Lord’s was pivotal. After New Zealand posted 241-8, Stokes and Jos Buttler built a crucial 110-run partnership. The match went to a Super Over, where Stokes again batted, helping England post 15 runs, leading to their maiden World Cup title. He was named Player of the Match for his performance.

His innings of 135 runs against Australia at Headingley in 2019 is often cited as a defining moment. With England needing 73 runs with only one wicket remaining to chase a target of 359, Stokes launched a counterattack, scoring 19 runs in a single over and hitting two sixes to reach his century. This innings, which included several fortunate moments for Stokes, helped England win the Test and keep their Ashes hopes alive.

At the close of play on Sunday, New Zealand were in a dominant position heading into the fifth and final day.

NewsIndia