Ben Stokes, captain of England cricket team, was honored with a special guard of honour on Day 4 of the continuing third Test against Recent Zealand at Trent Bridge after announcing his retirement from international cricket throughout the match.
As players returned for the ultimate session, Stokes walked onto the sector through a guard of honour formed by his England teammates, Recent Zealand batters Ben Sears and Daryl Mitchell, together 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 sector.
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A guard of honour, for the person who has given all the pieces ❤️ pic.twitter.com/nfjLkLC7wO
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 28, 2026
Recent Zealand declared their second innings at 288/9, setting England a stiff goal of 373 runs to clinch the series. England had won the opening Test, while Recent Zealand bounced back strongly within the second, leaving the three-match series evenly poised at 1-1.
England will now look to offer all the pieces in the ultimate innings and secure each the Test and the series as a fitting farewell for captain Ben Stokes. Stokes has delivered a formidable all-round performance at Trent Bridge to this point, claiming 4 wickets in Recent Zealand’s first innings and adding two more within the second.
A Have a look at Ben Stokes Stellar International Profession in Numbers
Ben Stokes is ready to make his final international appearance in the continuing third Test against Recent Zealand, bringing a rare profession to a detailed. He began his international journey in 2011, making his ODI debut against Ireland. Later that 12 months, 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 a formidable average of 41.22, including five centuries and 24 half-centuries, while also claiming 74 wickets with the ball. In T20 Internationals, he amassed 585 runs in 36 innings and took 26 wickets.
Before the third Test against Recent Zealand, Stokes had played 121 Tests, scoring 7,228 runs at a mean of 34.85, with 14 centuries and 37 fifties to his name. He also claimed 246 wickets within the longest format and surpassed the 250-wicket milestone throughout the ongoing Test.
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