Ben Stokes, captain of England cricket team, was honored with a special guard of honour on Day 4 of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge after announcing his retirement from international cricket during the match.
As players returned for the final session, Stokes walked onto the field through a guard of honour formed by his England teammates, New Zealand batters Ben Sears and Daryl Mitchell, along with the on-field umpires. The heartfelt tribute made the moment especially memorable.
Joe Root greeted Stokes with a handshake and a warm smile, adding to the emotional atmosphere. The Trent Bridge crowd joined in by rising to their feet and applauding, giving the England skipper a standing ovation. Stokes acknowledged the appreciation by raising his hands before completing his warm-up and leading his team onto the field.
You can watch the video here:
A guard of honour, for the man who has given everything ❤️ pic.twitter.com/nfjLkLC7wO
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 28, 2026
New Zealand declared their second innings at 288/9, setting England a stiff target of 373 runs to clinch the series. England had won the opening Test, while New Zealand bounced back strongly in the second, leaving the three-match series evenly poised at 1-1.
England will now look to give everything in the final innings and secure both the Test and the series as a fitting farewell for captain Ben Stokes. Stokes has delivered an impressive all-round performance at Trent Bridge so far, claiming four wickets in New Zealand’s first innings and adding two more in the second.
A Look at Ben Stokes Stellar International Career in Numbers
Ben Stokes is set to make his final international appearance in the ongoing third Test against New Zealand, bringing an extraordinary career to a close. He began his international journey in 2011, making his ODI debut against Ireland. Later that year, he earned his T20I cap against the West Indies cricket team, before making his Test debut against Australia in 2013.
Across 114 ODIs, Stokes scored 3,463 runs at an impressive average of 41.22, including five centuries and 24 half-centuries, while also claiming 74 wickets with the ball. In T20 Internationals, he accumulated 585 runs in 36 innings and took 26 wickets.
Before the third Test against New Zealand, Stokes had played 121 Tests, scoring 7,228 runs at an average of 34.85, with 14 centuries and 37 fifties to his name. He also claimed 246 wickets in the longest format and surpassed the 250-wicket milestone during the ongoing Test.
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