The scenario of cricket changed on June 25, 2026 England And new zealand Face to face in the third test in nottingham. While the excitement on the pitch was intense, the match will always be remembered for a seismic announcement off the field. England’s charismatic Test captain stunned fans globally with a move ben stokes He suddenly announced his retirement from international cricket in the middle of the match.
The great all-rounder watched the final hours of his international career from the balcony of the Trent Bridge dressing room on Monday as New Zealand clinched the series 2-1 with a 160-run win. Despite the ups and downs of a final week filled with off-field scrutiny, Stokes expressed complete calm about his departure and told the BBC, “I’m incredibly satisfied with everything right now… I’m done, friend, and I’m very happy“
Tributes paid to Indian batsmen from all over the world Sachin Tendulkar took to X (formerly Twitter) to write a deeply touching message for the retiring icon. Tendulkar highlighted the unique flair, fearlessness and grit that Stokes brought to the modern game – particularly during his aggressive tenure leading England’s revolutionary “baseball” era.
“I always admire the way you bring energy to the game. Your positivity, your fearless determination, and the way you shaped moments under pressure came to the fore every time you came in.” Tendulkar wrote, ”As an all-rounder, you have been one of England’s best players, and as a captain, your bold tactics and innate understanding of the game have given your team a new edge.“
Recognizing the competitor within Stokes, the Master Blaster added a poignant comment about the changes ahead: “Good luck with what’s next. Knowing you though, staying away from the middle can be the hardest part. Good luck with your next innings!“
.@benstokes38I always admire the way you bring energy to the game. Your positivity, your fearless determination and the way you shaped moments under pressure stands out every time. As an all-rounder, you have been one of England’s best players, and as a captain, your…
– Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) 29 June 2026
See also: Tom Latham paid an emotional tribute to Ben Stokes after the retirement of England’s star player.
New Zealand beats England for dominant series win
On the field, the Black Caps structurally demolished the hosts to seal a famous series win. New Zealand laid a huge foundation by scoring a challenging score of 438 runs in their first innings. The charge was led by Captain Tom LathamWho played a brilliant marathon inning of 151 runs on 214 balls, which got full support. devon conwayFluent 157. Stokes fought hard with the ball in his first innings farewell, taking 4 for 70, while jofra archer Took 2 wickets for 75 runs.
In reply, England’s first innings was reduced to 354 runs. ben duckett Played a explosive inning of 113 runs in just 99 balls and was young jacob bethel Contributed a solid 74 runs, but Kiwi debutant Nathan Smith broke the lineup with figures of 4 for 29, leaving England behind.
New Zealand strengthened its lead by declaring the second innings at 288 runs for 9 wickets. Rachin RavindraBrilliant 94 runs and not out, aggressive 100* runs darryl mitchell Gave England a huge target of 373 runs. Archer worked hard and took 4 wickets for 53 runs, but in the last innings the English batsmen faltered due to the immense pressure of the scoreboard.
Chasing a miracle, England’s second innings collapsed for 212 runs in 51.2 overs. Stokes contributed 30 quick runs and wicketkeeper on the front. jamie smith Fought back valiantly with an innings of 60, but the relentless Kiwi bowling unit proved overwhelming. zak faulx The spinner destroyed the top order by taking 3 wickets for 25 runs. michel santner Taking 2 wickets for 15 runs gave New Zealand a historic 160-run win and Stokes’ illustrious international career came to an end.
