England vs New Zealand: Ben Stokes’ career ends with series defeat
Third Rothesay Test, Trent Bridge (fifth day five)
New Zealand 438 (Conway 157, Latham 151; Stokes 4-70) & 288-9 December: (Mitchell 100*, Ravindra 94; Archer 4-53)
England 354 (Duckett 113, Bethell 74; Smith 4-91) & 212 (Smith 60; Foulkes 3-42)
New Zealand won by 160 runs, won the series 2-1
scorecard
Ben Stokes’ England career ended with a series defeat by New Zealand in Nottingham, which wrapped up the third round and decided the Test on the final day.
England’s 160-run defeat and 2-1 series reversal at Trent Bridge, the day after captain Stokes announced this Test would be their last, underlined the mess they found themselves in.
Following Sunday’s Stokes news, England found themselves at 103-4 by the end of the fourth day, leaving their chances of chasing 373 on Monday a foregone conclusion.
The sense of a prolonged brawl disappeared in the fourth over of the day when Emilio Gay departed and, more importantly, Joe Root was dismissed by Henry Nicholls’ spectacular direct blow.
Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson at least staved off humiliation with a 75-man challenge that ended with Atkinson walking out just before lunch.
Smith completed only his second half-century in 11 months, but Josh Tongue fell victim to another superb New Zealand direct strike, this time from Mitchell Santner, before Smith was caught at long-on to put England well behind.
It means New Zealand, heavily depleted by injuries, have claimed a famous series victory in this country for only the fourth time.
The Black Caps were the last visiting team to win a series here in 2021 and have now become the first tourists to win three or more Test series in this country in 14 years.
Stokes’ four-year spell as captain ends with his first defeat at home and his 15-year international career ends with England left in chaos.
It was their seventh defeat in nine Tests and extends the series winless streak into 2024.
In a tight schedule, England begin a white-ball series against India on Wednesday, but a quick return to action will not stop questions about whether further changes in management are required.
