Ben Stokes' international career looks set to end with a series defeat after England were left needing 270 runs to defeat New Zealand after day four of the third Test.

Midway through Sunday's afternoon session, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the match would be Stokes' last for his country, with the 35-year-old stepping away from the international game.

And though Stokes was involved with both ball and bat on the penultimate day, a chaotic finish left England with a mountain to climb ahead of Monday's play. 

Just as the bombshell news of his retirement was filtering through to the Trent Bridge crowd, Stokes' very first ball following that announcement brought a highlight-reel moment as his wonderful delivery was edged through to Harry Brook by Zak Foulkes (6).

That wicket was Stokes' second of the innings after a successful review had seen him remove Mitchell Santner for a duck, and it dropped New Zealand to 224-8 as England desperately attempted to wrestle back control of the match.

Jofra Archer posted figures of 4-53, dismissing Tom Blundell (18) and Nathan Smith (1) within the space of two overs after also grabbing two wickets on Saturday, but the scalp of Daryl Mitchell still evaded England.

Mitchell faced 241 balls in a defiant, marathon knock, and skipper Tom Lathan declared immediately after he brought up an unbeaten 100, with the tourists 373 runs ahead.

There was another huge roar from the Nottingham crowd when Stokes trotted out alongside Ben Duckett to open the batting for England, hoping to extend his career to Monday's final day.

Stokes came out swinging with 30 off 20 balls, but, having already been dropped by Will O'Rourke, he was taken at mid-on by Mitchell off Foulkes' bowling.

Perhaps inspired by Stokes' approach, England's other batsmen continued to take risks, but they arguably veered into recklessness as Jacob Bethell (0), Brook (21) and Duckett (36) also fell, with Foulkes getting two more wickets to leave New Zealand in a commanding position.

The end of something so so special  pic.twitter.com/p9lxoklywn

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 28, 2026

Stokes takes centre-stage but England face mammoth task

This Test will be the final chapter in the story of one of England's all-time greats, and Stokes – ever the entertainer – wrote another remarkable script.

Day four had been a slow burner until his retirement was stunningly announced while the players were out on the field. Stokes then received two guards of honour, one from his team-mates and another from the tourists, the latter after he promoted himself to open alongside Duckett in the chase.

But throughout the Stokes-Brendon McCullum era, critics have asked whether England's bold approach to batting is brave or rash, and on this occasion, it was the latter. 

The hosts lost four wickets for just 45 runs within the space of seven overs, with Brook – Stokes' likely successor – among those to fall following questionable shot selections. Stokes' predecessor Joe Root (9*) will resume at the crease alongside Emilio Gay (6*) on Monday.

With 7,273 runs and 252 wickets, Stokes is one of only two players to record 7,000+ runs and 250+ wickets in Tests, after South Africa legend Jacques Kallis, but he will play no further part as New Zealand look to clinch just their second series win in England this century (also in 2021).