England head coach Brendan McCullum described Ben Stokes as a “legend” after the captain confirmed the third Test with New Zealand will be his final game as an international cricketer.
Stokes took four for 70 in New Zealand’s first-innings score of 438 all out but only scored 15 runs with the bat as England replied with 354 all out.
New Zealand then racked up 288-9 declared after 94 overs of their second innings, with Daryl Mitchell (100no off 241 balls) and Rachin Ravindra (94 off 149) hurting the hosts.
Shock retirement
Stokes was in the middle of a long mid-afternoon bowling stint when the ECB revealed the news of his retirement from international cricket.
The shock news transmitted to the crowd, who rose to their feet to acknowledge the England skipper, who then took a wicket with the next ball as Harry Brook snared a slip catch.
Stokes ended the second innings with two for 49, with Jofra Archer taking four for 52 and Gus Atkinson two for 50.
The Durham all-rounder then decided to open the batting for England’s second innings, and he hit a swashbuckling 30 off 20 balls before heading back to the pavilion alongside Ben Duckett (36 off 42 balls), Jacob Bethell (0) and Brook (21 off 9).
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