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Stokes injured: England lose to New Zealand by 423 runs!
New Zealand beat England by 423 runs in the third Test, with captain Stokes not blaming his injury on the heavy strain.
Stokes injured: England lose to New Zealand by 423 runs!
New Zealand celebrate a stunning 423-run victory in the final Test as injured England captain Ben Stokes looks on.
A drama on the cricket field! New Zealand defeated England by 423 runs in a spectacular final, bringing down the head of England captain Ben Stokes, who suffered a painful hamstring injury during the match. Stokes, who missed four Tests after suffering an injury in August, was forced to leave Monday's game early. A setback for the 33-year-old who had fought back so hard!
“Every time you step on the field as an athlete you put yourself at risk of injury,” Stokes explained after the defeat in Hamilton. “I worked hard to be in this game and then something like this happens.” A bitter moment for the captain, who got injured in his 13th over in the first innings 24 overs and in just two balls in the second innings. A significantly higher amount of work than in the first two Tests that England won.
An emotional setback for Stokes
Emotions boiled over as Stokes had to leave the pitch. “I wondered if I could have done something different to avoid the injury,” he admitted. “But when you think about it, you realize the risk is always there.” A real shock for the captain who had been feeling so good and ready to lead England to victory.
Stokes will have an MRI scan on Wednesday to determine the extent of his injury. “I hope I am fit to play against India,” he said optimistically. England will not return to the Test format until May when they play Zimbabwe, followed by a five-match series against India in July and August.
New Zealand triumphs in Hamilton
New Zealand, on the other hand, celebrated a glorious victory and sent off Tim Southee, who was playing in his last Test on home soil, with an impressive result. The Black Caps fought back after a disappointing series in Christchurch and Wellington and showed their true talent in Hamilton. Mitchell Santner was named player of the match after taking seven wickets and scoring 76 and 49 runs with the bat.
“It's pleasing to end the game like this,” said New Zealand captain Tom Latham. “We knew we hadn’t played our best in the first two games but the way we adapted to the conditions was very pleasing.” England, who dominated in the first two Tests, fell in the fourth innings by 234 runs after lunch and failed to reach the impossible target of 658 runs.
The last three wickets fell in just 12 balls and the England team was devastated. Stokes and his team had planned so much, but the dream of a series sweep shattered in Hamilton.
“It's disappointing to end like this but the first two Tests were crucial for us,” said Stokes. “We played our best cricket there.” A bitter aftertaste remains as New Zealand celebrate and England prepare for the challenges ahead.