Ben Stokes: England captain delivers drama but ‘crazy cricket’ denies him dream of ‘fantastic’ Test career? | cricket news

Ben Stokes was unable to create a fairytale ending to his time as England captain, having played the role of hero at numerous points in his glittering international career.

Stokes announced in a statement released on Sunday – midway through the afternoon session and while he was bowling – that the Test series decider against New Zealand would be his last international match, nearly 15 years after his England debut and four years as Test captain.

The 35-year-old all-rounder, who has played a key role in England’s World Cup triumph and record-breaking chase for a historic Ashes run, is initially still hoping for another magical moment in his Test final at Trent Bridge.

Stokes took a wicket with the first ball shortly after announcing his retirement, then made 30 off 20 deliveries after England decided to open the batting in the run chase.

He was given a standing ovation after his dismissal, with England reaching stumps on 103-4 in a chaotic 15 overs on the brink of a series defeat on their home soil.

With England needing another 270 to win on the fifth and final day in Nottingham, former captain Michael Atherton questioned whether a different approach would have given Stokes a better chance of making a match-winning impact.

“The alternative narrative to Stokes’ opening is that England keep the same order, then they got what they got tonight by playing normal cricket as opposed to crazy cricket,” Atherton said. Coverage by Sky Sports.

“So you have all the expectations for Stokes’ last day tomorrow. The fifth day crowd was given a free ticket, so a certain room. There will be expectations that something extraordinary can happen on his last day as a Test cricketer.

“That’s not the path he and England chose.”

Jack Fowlkes snared Jacob Bethel in the same over and Harry Brook’s bonkers nine-ball 21 finished with Ben Duckett also falling before England left facing a tall task.

“It’s pretty unbelievable,” former New Zealand international Simon Dull said of England’s tactics. “I’m not sure I can or will understand it.

“There’s a Test match to try and win, a series to try and win. It seems the players are throwing it away.”

How ‘Outstanding’ Stokes Delivers More Test Plays

England’s 2019 World Cup hero admitted that four years as Test captain had left him “burnt out” and unable to connect with his love of the game, with Stokes telling his teammates before the fourth day that he would end his international career after this third Test.

Stokes was in the middle of a marathon bowling style when declared at 3.25pm, just before claiming the last of his 252 Test wickets and celebrating another iconic England moment.

“This afternoon it was arranged for Stokes to be declared out before he started batting, because if they don’t declare anything and he opens, it will give everything away,” Atherton explained.

“Obviously he wanted to be in the thick of the action when the announcement came. It was an 11-over spell, the kind of spell that characterizes him as a bowler and a cricketer – someone who wants to be in the thick of the action.

“And of course the drama of getting a wicket on the first ball after the declaration. These great cricketers, they script things for themselves! It was Botham-esque in a way.”

His future was questioned during the winter in Australia and again after the 4–1 Ashes defeat at the start of the series, following a nightclub incident that ruled him out of the second Test, Stokes was described as ‘one of the defining figures of his generation’ after calling time on his England career.

“An undeniably great cricketer for England, there’s no question about that,” added Atherton. “I think he has been an outstanding England captain throughout the journey.

“The first few years, it was a transformation that few of us have ever seen in a sporting team – that was really bad, and then he turned it around with the help of others.

“It wasn’t planned last year. And I have to say, we were at Lord’s, and those of us who were in that job, I think they understood that he was going to come to the end of the road.

“He looked like a guy who had been England captain for four years. A lot of us have done it for about that time. It’s a wearing job, it wears on you and you can’t go.”

Why ‘warrior’ Stokes will be ‘greatly missed’

Stokes – who played 122 Tests for England – is one of only two players in history to score 7,000 runs and take more than 250 Test wickets, making him the best all-rounder in the game.

Former England bowler Stuart Broad said, “To be honest, it doesn’t feel very real.” told Sky Sports. “Just to stand by him there, it’s the right decision. He knows he’s done playing cricket at the highest level under this pressure, under this scrutiny.

“It’s a shame for England fans that we won’t see him in that shirt again. And for us, the work we do, it’s very entertaining to talk about and comment on. He’s a generational talent, an outstanding fighter for English cricket, and he’ll be sorely missed.”

Broad added: “I’d really hoped he’d continue next summer and lead this team a bit more. I feel the same way with Joe Root, and these players who we’ve seen impact English cricket for a long time, you want to soak in and enjoy watching them more.

“Now we won’t see him at the highest level on the greatest stage, but we have some very special memories. I just have to say he was the most incredible teammate. You knew he was always there for you, always supporting you and doing everything for the team to win.”

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