England vs New Zealand: Ben Stokes' career ends with series defeat

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.

For Stokes, a four-year captaincy reign ends with his first home defeat, and a 15-year international career ends with England in chaos.

This was their seventh defeat in nine Tests, and extends a run without a series win stretching back to 2024.

In a congested calendar, England begin a white-ball series against India on Wednesday, but a swift return to action will not stop questions over whether further change to the management is required.

This was anything but a fitting end to the career of an England great. Stokes has been synonymous with huge moments, a never-say-die attitude and making crowds believe anything is possible. The only thing that seemed possible on Monday was a heavy England loss.

Entry to Trent Bridge was free, yet the ground was only half full, probably because Stokes' involvement in the match was already over and England were all but beaten.

England's batting was chaotic on Sunday evening, explained by a desire to put a dent in the target. The recklessness of the fourth evening was made more baffling by the orthodox manner in which England went about their business on Monday.

In truth, the game was up 19 deliveries into the day. Gay edged Nathan Smith behind and, four balls later, Root responded to a call for a single from Jamie Smith, only to be left short at the striker's end by Nicholls' sensational swoop and throw from point.

England keeper Smith dug in, supported by Surrey team-mate Atkinson. The ball skidded, spat and turned, but the eighth-wicket pair survived until Santner skipped one into Atkinson's back pad.

Smith lost Jofra Archer after lunch, completed his half-century, then Tongue left himself open to Santner's direct hit. In the next over, Smith holed out.

This was supposed to be the beginning of England's post-Ashes rebuild. Instead, they are in tatters, without a captain and pondering a future without one of their greatest ever players.

The optimism of the victory over New Zealand in the first Test has evaporated. Three weeks ago, Ollie Robinson's return inspired hope England could get back on track. Now, they are off the rails and Robinson has not been seen since.

What started as a nightclub controversy involving Stokes and Atkinson morphed into a second-string side being hammered in the second Test.

Stokes' return hinted normality may resume until his bombshell announcement on Sunday, one of the most extraordinary days in English cricket history.

It has left England in need of a new captain for their next Test against Pakistan in August, probably Harry Brook, but possibly Root.

They will also have to cope without the irreplaceable all-round ability of Stokes, balancing and inspiring the team. The next Ashes is only a year away, but the 10 Tests before then could also be challenging.

Who else might follow Stokes through the exit in the days and weeks to come? England head coach Brendon McCullum, director of cricket Rob Key, England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould and chair Richard Thompson will all be feeling the heat.

The Stokes news and England turmoil should take nothing away the achievement of New Zealand, who won the series despite the retirement of their own great - Kane Williamson - after the first Test.

The Black Caps played hard-nosed, disciplined and ruthless Test cricket, giving a lesson to England. They out-skilled the home side, as shown by their electric fielding on this final day.

Yes, New Zealand had the benefit of playing against a weakened England in the second Test, but they too were depleted in the third. They won an important toss and rarely ceded the advantage of a 317-run opening stand between Tom Latham and Devon Conway.

Different players have stepped up with important contributions across the series: Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell with the bat, Matt Henry with the ball and Tom Blundell behind the stumps.

The Kiwis were beaten in Stokes' first series in charge, the birth of Bazball. Now, it is New Zealand who have ended an era.