{"id":187460,"date":"2026-06-29T08:55:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T14:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=187460"},"modified":"2026-06-29T08:55:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T14:25:57","slug":"bazball-goes-bust-as-new-zealand-seals-series-in-stokes-swansong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=187460","title":{"rendered":"Bazball goes bust as New Zealand seals series in Stokes swansong"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"content-body-71161983\">New Zealand overwhelmed England by 160 runs in the third Test at Trent Bridge on Monday as Ben Stokes\u2019s last match in international cricket ended with a thumping defeat.<\/p>\n<p>Victory meant New Zealand won a three-match campaign 2-1- just its fourth series success in England in 20 attempts and only the second time it had triumphed after being 1-0 down after its 1999 success in England.<\/p>\n<p>This was also England\u2019s first series defeat at home in three or more Tests since 2012.<\/p>\n<p>The Test was upstaged by England captain Stokes dramatically announcing his retirement from international duty on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>The 35-year-old all-rounder said he felt \u201cburnt out\u201d after four years as England skipper, although Stokes added he would continue to play for county side Durham.<\/p>\n<p>His decision came after he had returned to England duty after being omitted from a crushing 253-run defeat in the second Test, having broken a midnight curfew following the host\u2019s win in the series opener.<\/p>\n<p>Spectators in Nottingham gave Stokes a standing ovation when the news was made public on Sunday afternoon and the talismanic skipper promptly took a wicket with his next delivery.<\/p>\n<p>Stokes later promoted himself to open England\u2019s innings even though he is normally a middle-order batsman, with the hosts set a stiff target of 373 to win following Daryl Mitchell\u2019s courageous unbeaten century, which secured the player-of-the-match award.<\/p>\n<p>Stokes blazed his way to 30 off 20 balls, including two sixes, before he holed out, with his exit meaning he would have no on-field role on Monday, his last day in international cricket.<\/p>\n<p>England had dramatically chased down a target of 299 to beat New Zealand at Trent Bridge four years ago, right at the start of the team\u2019s aggressive \u2018Bazball\u2019 era under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum with Jonny Bairstow scoring a blistering century.<\/p>\n<p>Bairstow, however, was helped on his way by Tim Southee- now England\u2019s fast-bowling coach in a backroom set-up led by former New Zealand captain McCullum- with the seamer repeatedly bowling short as Bairstow hooked several sixes high over a short boundary.<\/p>\n<p><b>ALSO READ<\/b>:        <b><a href=\"https:\/\/sportstar.thehindu.com\/cricket\/andrew-strauss-ben-stokes-england-new-zealand-series-test-retirment-news\/article71161514.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Strauss left \u2018dumbfounded\u2019 by timing of Stokes\u2019s England exit<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p>But the current New Zealand attack held its nerve, with England losing three more wickets before Sunday\u2019s close to be in dire straits at 103-4.<\/p>\n<p>And they were in even worse trouble at 116-6 after losing two wickets in five balls early in Monday\u2019s play.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan Smith had Emilio Gay caught behind for 10 and then Joe Root, one of England\u2019s greatest batters, was superbly run out for 18 by Henry Nicholls\u2019s brilliant direct hit from backward point.<\/p>\n<p>Gus Atkinson, also back after breaking curfew alongside Stokes, and Jamie Smith kept New Zealand at bay with a stand of 75 before Atkinson was lbw for 19 to left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner.<\/p>\n<p>Jofra Archer, in a dismissal that summed up much of England\u2019s performance, was then caught behind off Nathan Smith trying to leave the ball as the hosts slumped to 198-8 shortly after lunch.<\/p>\n<p>Jamie Smith went to a fifty when he punched Santner for four.<\/p>\n<p>But another excellent direct hit run-out did for tailender Josh Tongue, with Santner on target this time, before Jamie Smith (60) was caught in the deep by Nathan Smith to seal a well-deserved success for the Black Caps.<\/p>\n<p>This match was a personal triumph for several New Zealand players, with captain Tom Latham (151) and Devon Conway (157) sharing an opening stand of 317 in the Black Caps\u2019 first-innings 438.<\/p>\n<p>New Zealand came into this match without injured paceman Matt Henry, their 11-wicket hero at the Oval, and in-form towering quick Kyle Jamieson, rested as a fitness precaution.<\/p>\n<p>And in Nottingham, Blair Tickner could only manage three overs before pulling out with concussion suffered when the tailender was hit flush on the helmet by an Archer bouncer.<\/p>\n<p>But fellow paceman Zak Foulkes, New Zealand\u2019s first concussion substitute, performed superbly to take six wickets in the match.<\/p>\n<p class=\"publish-time\" id=\"end-of-article\">Published on Jun 29, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/sportstar.thehindu.com\/cricket\/eng-vs-nz-third-test-score-day-5-result-scorecard-ben-stokes-tom-latham-highlights-trent-bridge\/article71161983.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New Zealand overwhelmed England by 160 runs in the third Test at Trent Bridge on Monday as Ben Stokes\u2019s last match in international cricket ended with a thumping defeat. Victory&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":187461,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-187460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_B8NB9TB.jpg","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":183564,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=183564","url_meta":{"origin":187460,"position":0},"title":"Stokes to return as England captain for 3rd New Zealand Test &#8211; McCullum","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"en Stokes will return as England captain for next week\u2019s third and deciding Test against New Zealand in Nottingham, England head coach Brendon McCullum announced Sunday. Stokes was stood down from England\u2019s 253-run defeat by New Zealand in the second Test at the Oval for breaching a team curfew following\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2082.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2082.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2082.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2082.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2082.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":187252,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=187252","url_meta":{"origin":187460,"position":1},"title":"Ben Stokes \u2018content\u2019 after extraordinary England exit","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"England captain Ben Stokes insisted he felt \u201ccontent\u201d after announcing his shock retirement from international cricket on Sunday in the middle of a Test match. The 35-year-old all-rounder confirmed his exit shortly before Tea on the fourth day of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand in Nottingham, having informed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-28T175150Z_1094004680_UP1EM6S1DMCAU_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-28T175150Z_1094004680_UP1EM6S1DMCAU_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-28T175150Z_1094004680_UP1EM6S1DMCAU_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-28T175150Z_1094004680_UP1EM6S1DMCAU_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-28T175150Z_1094004680_UP1EM6S1DMCAU_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":185022,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=185022","url_meta":{"origin":187460,"position":2},"title":"England captain Stokes insists he is \u2018man enough\u2019 to apologise after curfew breach","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Returning captain Ben Stokes insisted he had been \u201cman enough\u201d to apologise to his England team-mates after missing the last Test for breaching a curfew. Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were dropped from the second Test against New Zealand after breaking a midnight curfew in an incident at a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-23T131401Z_162362782_UP1EM6N10RCV1_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL-PREVIEW.JPG?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-23T131401Z_162362782_UP1EM6N10RCV1_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL-PREVIEW.JPG?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-23T131401Z_162362782_UP1EM6N10RCV1_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL-PREVIEW.JPG?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-23T131401Z_162362782_UP1EM6N10RCV1_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL-PREVIEW.JPG?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-23T131401Z_162362782_UP1EM6N10RCV1_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL-PREVIEW.JPG?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":187174,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=187174","url_meta":{"origin":187460,"position":3},"title":"Michael Atherton questions timing of shock Stokes exit","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Ben Stokes\u2019s shock decision to announce his international retirement in the middle of a Test match left former England skipper Michael Atherton asking, \u201cwhy and why now?\u201d. England captain Stokes announced he would be bringing down the curtain on his stellar international career at the end of the ongoing third\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2079.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2079.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2079.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2079.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2079.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":184754,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=184754","url_meta":{"origin":187460,"position":4},"title":"England coach McCullum denies rift with \u2018good friend\u2019 Stokes","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"England coach Brendon McCullum has denied his relationship with Ben Stokes was damaged by the nightclub controversy that forced the captain into exile for the second Test defeat against New Zealand. Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were dropped after breaking a midnight curfew in an incident at a London\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image20-202026-06-23T193528.847.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image20-202026-06-23T193528.847.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image20-202026-06-23T193528.847.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image20-202026-06-23T193528.847.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image20-202026-06-23T193528.847.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":182795,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=182795","url_meta":{"origin":187460,"position":5},"title":"England captain Stokes in action for Durham as Test recall looms","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Dropped England captain Ben Stokes was denied a wicket with just his fourth ball as he returned to action for Durham in their County Championship match against Northamptonshire on Friday. Stokes and England team-mate Gus Atkinson were dropped from the ongoing second Test against New Zealand at the Oval after\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2282382897.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2282382897.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2282382897.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2282382897.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2282382897.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgnRh4-MLy","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=187460"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187460\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/187461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=187460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=187460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=187460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}