Sunday at 18:182 days I'm sad to see him leave, what a great all rounder he's been for the England test team.Meanwhile Ireland beat world champions India for the second time this week to take the T20 series 2-0. Great bowling from them in both matches to defend relatively low scores batting first.
Yesterday at 02:391 day Author Ben Stokes has rejected suggestions he could reverse his international retirement for next year's Ashes, saying he is "done".Stokes, 35, announced his shock retirement on Sunday and his storied international career ended on Monday when his side's defeat by New Zealand in the third Test was confirmed.Asked if there is any chance he could return to play Australia next summer, he told BBC Test Match Special: "I am incredibly content with everything right now."It is a decision I don't take lightly. It has taken a lot of time. I am done. I am very happy."Asked again if he was sure, Stokes replied: "Sure."
Yesterday at 02:451 day Author Ben Stokes' storied England career ended in a series defeat by New Zealand, who wrapped up the third and deciding Test on the final day in Nottingham.The day after captain Stokes announced this Test would be his last, England's 160-run loss at Trent Bridge - and a 2-1 series reverse - highlighted the mess they now find themselves in.In the aftermath of the Stokes news on Sunday, England slumped to a self-inflicted 103-4 by the close of day four, leaving an inevitability about their chances of chasing 373 on Monday.And any sense of a prolonged fight was extinguished in the fourth over of the day, when Emilio Gay departed and, crucially, Joe Root was run out by an extraordinary direct hit from Henry Nicholls.Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson at least staved off humiliation with a battling stand of 75, ended when Atkinson was out just before lunch.Smith completed only his second half-century in 11 months, but Josh Tongue was the victim of another sublime New Zealand direct hit, this time by Mitchell Santner, before Smith was caught at long-off to leave England 212 all out.It means New Zealand, heavily depleted by injuries, have earned a famous series win, only their fourth in this country.The Black Caps were the last visiting team to win a series here, in 2021, and now they are the first tourists to win a series of three or more Tests in this country in 14 years.
16 hours ago16 hr Author Harry Brook would accept the England Test captaincy and believes it is possible to lead the country in all three formats.England are looking for a new Test skipper after Ben Stokes' retirement and Stokes gave his "100%" backing to Brook becoming his successor.Brook told BBC Sport: "I don't think you can turn down being an England Test captain."It would be an honour and a privilege to be Test captain – the pinnacle of our sport."It's not up to me to make that decision. It's up to people well above me. I'd be happy to do it if I did get asked."
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