Trent Bridge: Ben Stokes’ final international appearance concludes amidst New Zealand’s series push

By Arjun Nair / 29.06.2026

By Arjun Nair — 29 June 2026 — 4 min read

Ben Stokes’ final international appearance saw England facing a significant challenge against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. As the fourth day concluded, New Zealand was close to securing a series victory, with England needing 270 runs to win on the final day.

The hosts finished the fourth day at 103-4, chasing a target of 373 after New Zealand declared their second innings at 288-9. This match marks the end of Stokes’ captaincy era, which began four years prior at the same venue when England successfully chased 299 against New Zealand.

Stokes’ final innings and career highlights

Stokes announced his retirement during an afternoon bowling spell and subsequently opened the batting, aiming for a victory target of 373. He hit a six off the 11th ball of the innings, a notable achievement for an England player. He added another six in the fourth over before being dismissed for 30 runs off 20 balls, receiving a standing ovation.

Following Stokes’ dismissal, Jacob Bethell was out for a duck, and Harry Brook, a potential successor for the Test captaincy, scored 21 runs off nine balls. Ben Duckett’s wicket in the penultimate over left England at 103-4 after 15 overs.

Stokes’ international career spanned 15 years, during which he was known for his resilience and ability to perform in high-pressure situations. His career is marked by several memorable performances.

One such performance was his maiden Test century of 120 runs against Australia in Perth in 2013. At just 22 years of age, he formed crucial partnerships, scoring 99 runs with Ian Bell and 76 runs with Matt Prior, against a strong Australian pace attack. This innings was England’s first century of the series and only the third by an English batter in Perth since 1987.

In 2016, Stokes made his ICC Men’s T20 World Cup debut, delivering a superb spell of 3/26 against New Zealand in the semi-final in Delhi. He took wickets in successive deliveries and conceded only three runs in the 20th over, playing a vital role in restricting New Zealand’s batting line-up.

Another significant bowling performance came in 2017 against the West Indies at Lord’s, where he achieved career-best figures of 6/22. He dismantled the West Indies batting, taking three wickets in six deliveries. He also scored a fighting half-century in the same match, contributing to England’s nine-wicket victory and series win.

In the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final at Lord’s, Stokes scored an unbeaten 84 runs against New Zealand. He was instrumental in rebuilding England’s innings with a 110-run partnership with Jos Buttler. The match went to a Super Over, where Stokes again batted, helping England post 15 runs, leading to their maiden World Cup title.

Barely a month after the World Cup, Stokes delivered another memorable performance in the 2019 Ashes at Headingley. Chasing a target of 359 against Australia, England were 286/9, still needing 73 runs. Stokes launched a counterattack, scoring 19 runs in a single over to reach his century and hitting two sixes. He shielded Jack Leach, leading England to a victory that kept the series alive.

New Zealand’s strong position

For New Zealand, Daryl Mitchell scored an unbeaten 100 runs off 241 balls, overcoming several blows to complete his sixth Test century. He hit ten fours and one six during his nearly seven-hour stay at the crease. Mitchell also shared a crucial 129-run fourth-wicket partnership with Rachin Ravindra, who made 94 runs.

Joe Root, who remained unbeaten on nine runs, expressed disappointment at England being four wickets down but noted that they had made a significant dent in the target. He stated that a series win would be the perfect send-off for Ben Stokes. New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra acknowledged that England came out with serious intent but praised his team’s bowling, stating that having four wickets at the close was a favorable position.

The match at Trent Bridge saw New Zealand in a dominant position heading into the final day on June 29, 2026.

Source: icc-cricket.com