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'I've lost all respect': Fans rip Ben Stokes over 'selfish' 'gimmickry' after retirement announcement during ENG vs NZ 3rd Test originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Ben Stokes announced his retirement on June 28, 2026, during Day 4 of England's third Test against New Zealand.
- The England captain received a standing ovation, a guard of honour and opened the batting in the fourth innings.
- Fans on X labelled his approach and antics during the farewell Test "selfish", "gimmickry," and "self-indulgent".
Ben Stokes' bombshell retirement during England vs New Zealand 3rd Test at Trent Bridge
Ben Stokes' retirement announcement was one of the hottest topics of discussion in the cricket world on June 28, 2026.
The announcement itself came as a shock, mid-way through the third Test between England and New Zealand but what followed at Trent Bridge, however, didn't sit well with many fans.
Before play on Day 4, Stokes informed England's dressing room that the ongoing Test would be his final appearance in international cricket. However, the fourth day's play became as much about his farewell as England's pursuit of a daunting 373-run target.
"There's something that I know is going to happen over the next two days, which is that this is my last two days as your captain and my last two days representing England," Stokes told teammates.
The ECB released the emotional dressing-room video midway through New Zealand's second innings. Moments later, Trent Bridge rose to its feet as news spread around the ground, and Stokes capped the moment by dismissing Zakary Foulkes in his very next over.
Following New Zealand's declaration, the farewell continued as Stokes received a guard of honour before unexpectedly opening the batting in England's chase. He struck a rapid 30 from 20 balls before being dismissed, with England ending the day on 103/4, still requiring 270 runs for victory.
MORE:'I'm not convinced Stokes is the retiring type': Cricket world in disbelief after Ben Stokes' shock retirement announcement
'I've lost all respect': Why fans are not happy with Ben Stokes' farewell antics
While many viewed the sequence as a fitting send-off for an England legend, not everyone agreed, as the hosts are on the verge of losing the Test match and, consequently, the series against the Blackcaps at home, which is currently tied 1-1.
Cricinfo journalist Danyal Rasool wrote on X:
"Might age poorly but this Stokes innings is pure gimmickry, when there's an actual chase on and he can be gun towards the end of chases. Way too self indulgent."
"Ben Stokes - 'it's all about the team.' Resigns mid match. Guard of honour after tea," an English fan wrote. "Opens the batting. Bats like an idiot. I've lost all respect for him and the players that engaged in the madness."
Another supporter had the bluntest take, describing the farewell as one of the "most shameful, selfish and self-indulgent acts committed by any sporting team", stating that England had disrespected both New Zealand and the occasion.
"What we’ve seen today from Ben Stokes and @englandcricket is one of the most shameful, selfish and self-indulgent acts committed by any sporting team," George Cazenove posted on X. "They’ve insulted their opponents, their hosts at NCCC and the cricketing public."
On the other hand, Cricinfo's Vithushan Ehantharajah opined in his column that Stokes' farewell contradicted the very values he had championed as England captain.
He described the retirement as "entirely self-centred", suggesting England's decision to send Stokes in as an opener disrupted the batting order more than it unsettled New Zealand.
"He told the dressing-room, ahead of the day's play, that this was it, and referenced previous trips to the well that have broken him physical and mentally in one last rallying cry. 'I've got one more trip to do,' he said, before looking in the eyes of his team-mates and asking them to join him. Little did they know he would be taking them off the cliff."
CricViz's Ben Jones probably had a more neutral, non-negative reaction than the above:
"The way Stokes is batting feels far more like a man saying fudge You to his employers than a man who never intends playing international cricket again," he shared on X.
MORE:What really happened in Ben Stokes' nightclub incident: Timeline of England captain's controversy
The Cricket News Opinion: England results come first before farewell but was it a message?
Given everything that unfolded over the previous days and weeks, Stokes may have wanted to leave entirely on his own terms.
However, as Cricinfo's Ehantharajah noted, though, the farewell appeared to contradict many of the values Stokes himself had championed throughout the Bazball era: selflessness and putting the team first. Though the bad habit - fearless batting without sense - appeared to be a theme towards the end of Day 4.
Perhaps it was Stokes reclaiming his freedom after an emotionally draining few weeks. Perhaps the magnitude of the occasion simply swept him away.
Whatever the reason, opening the batting in the middle of a tricky chase that could decide the series shifted the focus from England winning a Test match to England celebrating its captain.
The irony was that the approach seemed to rub off on batters that followed him in the batting order. England need 270 runs with six wickets in hand, leaving one of the few sensible batters, Joe Root, to somehow fulfill an improbable task.
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