Ben Stokes called selfish by Morgan [Source: AFP]In a shocking turn of events, Ben Stokes made a decision that no one saw coming: He announced his international retirement minutes before the close of the second session of play on Day 4 of the third Test match. The former England Test captain was involved in a nightclub controversy and, as a result, was removed from the team for the second game.Reportedly, Stokes didn’t like the way Rob Key, the ECB Director, criticised him for his off-field issues, and the 35-year-old took a bold call to retire from international cricket.England, in the fourth innings run chase, needed a tricky 373 to win the series, but even before the England chase commenced, Stokes sprang a surprise.Stokes ditched middle-order role, opened for England on his last outingIn the England Vs New Zealand series, the hosts have used Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay as their preferred openers, but in the fourth-innings chase at Trent Bridge, Stokes surprised everyone by demoting Gay and pushing himself at the top of the order.Stokes in the fourth innings is a brilliant run-chaser, and the team needed him to bat at his usual middle-order position. However, the then England captain made a bizarre decision, and it backfired: the left-handed batter played some gorgeous shots but was eventually dismissed for 30 off 20.Once England’s biggest match-winner departed, the team crumbled like a pack of cards and the hosts could only score 212 as New Zealand won the Test match by 160 runs, thus winning the series as well.Eoin Morgan tears into Ben Stokes for bizarre batting position switchBen Stokes’ ex-teammate, Eoin Morgan, didn’t hold back when it came to criticising England and Stokes for their bizarre strategy in the fourth-innings run-chase. The former World Cup-winning captain was puzzled by Stokes’s decision to open, and stated that it was completely unnecessary.Brutal Truth @sarkarstix 🚨 BIG ADMISSION 🚨 Former England captain Eoin Morgan has torn into Ben Stokes and England's batting strategy in the third Test against New Zealand. Morgan said the decision to send Stokes in as an opener was one of several calls that undermined years of hard work, tarnished Jul 2, 2026, 12:58 PM "The decision, I was a little bit shocked by. I didn't really see it coming," Morgan said. Having played with Ben for a long time, I know he would have envisaged finishing in a blaze of glory, like the majority of his career. In his head, he would have believed he could go out there, open the batting and chase down whatever - or make a huge dent in the score - but I felt there was no need to make that call," Morgan said on Sky Sports.Morgan reckons Stokes missed out on a chance to become England's hero in 3rd TestHe further stated that the Test match was perfectly set up for Stokes to play the hero in the chase, but he was left disappointed with how the 35-year-old went about his business.Also Read: How Ben Stokes Made England’s Limitations Work for Them"The game was set up perfectly for Ben to come in the next day and, with however many to chase, dominate the run-chase. I felt it was a little bit forced and it left a sour taste in people's mouths. It set ablaze everything they'd achieved in the three or four years leading up to that period."In such a short space of time, to almost undermine what had been going on with some of the shots that were made by some high-quality batters was really disappointing to watch. I think to a certain extent it has [tarnished their legacy]. And I think Ben himself will be gutted about that, as he'll not be around to help pick things up and move things forward," he added.Ben Stokes ends Test journey on a sour noteThe former English all-rounder ended his international career on a sour note. He was involved in off-field controversies that hampered his image, and reportedly, the player lost confidence amongst the team management.Moreover, with the bat, Stokes disappointed as he scored just 15, and 30 in the two innings as England lost the game and the Test series, 1-2.He would have ideally loved to bow out on a high, but with yet another loss, the England side are reeling in the WTC points table, as the latest loss leaves the team at seventh position, with almost no chance of qualifying for the WTC final.Also Read: Key Player Doubtful For India Vs Sri Lanka Test Series Due To Injury
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