Key events
So, match situation. In short, England are losing. They need another 270 runs and are four wickets down.
But where there’s a Root, there’s a way. The former England skipper (and possibly future England skipper?) is at the crease on nine along with Emilio Gay on six.
It’s from a couple of days ago, but also worth a read of Andy Bull from Saturday.
Amidst all the drama and emotion of Stokes’ retirement, there is also the small fact that this is likely to be England’s sixth Test defeat in the last eight. They will have two wins from their last ten and have a losing record over the past three years. Will there be more change ahead?
Mark Ramprakash’s article on Stokes yesterday was excellent. It’s a morning to sit back and read everything from the twenty-four hours and I’d start, for now, with this.
To get in the mood. Here’s a gallery of Stokes’ remarkable cricket career in pictures.
There may be just a few things to talk about today. Get in touch with me here and I’m interested in all your thoughts. What you thought of yesterday, was it self-indulgent or was it a blaze of glory? And also your favourite Ben Stokes’ moments. Headingley 2019, Lord’s 2019 and….?
Preamble
Well. We’re here and it’s happening. Ben Stokes’ final day as a Test cricketer.
It’s a fresh air day for him as he’s already batted and already bowled, but he’ll watch his team do their best to chase down an unlikely 373 to avoid their first home series defeat since 2012 (three Tests or more).
Yesterday was one of the most extraordinary days of cricket ever. If you want to read Ali Martin’s report of it, it is here.
