Nottingham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Andrew Strauss said he was "dumbfounded" by the timing of Ben Stokes's exit from international cricket as he paid tribute to a "genuine great" of the English game.
Issued on: 29/06/2026 - 13:54
2 min Reading time
England captain Ben Stokes (R) leaves the field for the tea break on Sunday's fourth day of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge after it was annouced he would retire from international cricket at the end of the match © Darren Staples / AFP
Stokes's decision to call time on his celebrated England career at the end of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge was made public on the fourth day of the series decider.The England captain, in the middle of a lengthy bowling stint, promptly took a wicket with his first ball afterwards.Stokes, normally a middle-order batsman, then opened the innings but holed out as England lost several wickets in a manic pursuit of a stiff target of 373, with the hosts 103-4 at stumps and on the brink of a first series defeat at home in three or more Tests since 2012.
