Ben Stokes to watch Ashes from ‘hospitality box’ after series defeat to New Zealand in farewell Test

Ben Stokes has swiped away suggestions he could be tempted back to face Australia in next winter’s Ashes series battles in England.

Twenty four hours after dropping the bombshell announcement that he was retiring from international cricket with almost immediate effect, he dismissed thoughts of any comeback, even against the Aussies.

“I’m done,” he said.

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“I’ve had a few questions asking whether I’ll be able to sit on my sofa watching next year. I know it’s the Ashes, but I’ll probably be watching it in a hospitality box somewhere.”

Stokes does have form with treating retirements as temporary affairs, ending his ODI career only to return for the 2023 World Cup.

He also persuaded Moeen Ali to come back for one last Ashes assignment after he walked away from Test cricket. But Stokes insists: “I am incredibly content with everything right now”.

Stokes quit on the fourth day of the third and decisive Test with New Zealand, who spoiled any hopes of a winning farewell by wrapping up the match, and the series, the following day.

Ben Stokes is backing Harry Brook to replace him as England’s Test captain, insisting it is a “natural progression” for his deputy.

“If I was to be asked who I think should do it, I would be throwing my 100 per cent support behind Harry Brook,” he said.

“You are asked to be vice-captain for a reason and I was vice-captain under Joe for a long time. It’s the natural progression. You don’t ask someone to be vice-captain if you don’t think he’s got the skills and ability to captain the team.”

Ben Stokes has farewelled Test cricket with a loss. Credit: Getty

Stokes offered a less effusive take when it came to head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key, the other two power players of the ‘Bazball’ era that has now closed.

After seven defeats in the last nine Tests, and a rare home series defeat on their record, both men need to see an improvement in results and a reduction in off-field headlines.

Stokes said: “I’m done now, I don’t have to take those kind of decisions and be involved in all that stuff. One of the nice feelings of the situation I’m in now is that I don’t have to worry about that stuff.”

New Zealand have won a Test series in England for the fourth time by wrapping up a 160-run victory in the third Test at Trent Bridge, bringing down the curtain on the international career of home captain Ben Stokes on a losing note.

Resuming on 4-103 and chasing an unlikely 373 to win, England were dismissed for 212 soon after lunch on the fifth day as New Zealand clinched the series 2-1 with a 160-run victory, bringing down the curtain on the international career of Stokes on a losing note.

Stokes did not have an active role on the final day since he was dismissed for 30 late on Sunday after opening the batting.

It was England’s first defeat in a home series of three or more Tests since 2012. The team have lost seven of their last nine Test matches, a streak that piles the pressure on the leadership team of McCullum and Key.

New Zealander McCullum addressed speculation over his own future, saying: “My enthusiasm for English cricket and my commitment to English cricket has never wavered. I’ve got a firm belief in the direction that this team can go.”

England’s final-day hopes realistically rested on Joe Root and Emilio Gay but they both departed in the fourth over, having walked to the middle with the boundary boards around the ground displaying the message: “Thank you Ben Stokes.”

A seventh-wicket stand of 75 between Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson held up New Zealand’s charge before lunch, before Atkinson (19) was trapped lbw by spinner Mitchell Santner.

The end came 15 minutes into the second session, when Smith was dismissed for 60.

New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell, whose gutsy second innings 100 not out did much to put the match beyond England’s reach, said: “We’re a small country down the bottom of the Earth and something we pride ourselves on is we get stuck into whatever is needed to be done and try and get the job done.”