Cricket

[Haywain]

Interesting that speaking to TMS he explained that he's been feeling recently that he's been falling out of love with the game a little bit but having a spell with Durham last week he found he was enjoying every moment of playing cricket with Durham and then back on the international stage finding that he didn't have that love was a driving force for him retiring from international cricket.

I've read the transcript of the interview he did with Sky after close of play and that's the impression I get. It seems the suspension from the second test let him see what he was missing.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

Did Stokes get pushed or jumped?

You dont just suddenly retire like that for no reason

 

[75A]

Did Stokes get pushed or jumped?

You dont just suddenly retire like that for no reason

True

 

[Trackman]

r

Did Stokes get pushed or jumped?

You dont just suddenly retire like that for no reason

I reckon a big falling out with the ECB over the nightclub 'incident', I wonder if we will ever find out what happened.
The Monty Panesar nightclub incident takes some beating and was only banned for match but he was arrested.

 

[Falcon1200]

I can see Stokes' logic in his timing and his choice to open the batting.

Why not keep his decision to himself and announce his retirement at the end of the Test? His behaviour was arrogant, selfish, and has tarnished the reputation of an undoubtedly brilliant cricketer, not to mention affected the confidence of Emilio Gay.

 

[Haywain]

Did Stokes get pushed or jumped?

You dont just suddenly retire like that for no reason

He jumped, undoubtedly. But the suspension definitely played a part in him coming to that decision.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jun 2026 ==

affected the confidence of Emilio Gay.

Has it? You have absolutely zero evidence to back that up.

 

[Falcon1200]

You have absolutely zero evidence to back that up.

What effect do you think having only recently been selected as a Test match opener for England but then, when a huge amount of runs, or time batting, is required to win or draw the match, being dropped down the order (and not to number 3 or 4, but 6) would have on any player's confidence?

 

[Haywain]

What effect do you think having only recently been selected as a Test match opener for England but then, when a huge amount of runs, or time batting, is required to win or draw the match, being dropped down the order (and not to number 3 or 4, but 6) would have on any player's confidence?

I'm not that player and nor are you, so how can you know how his confidence might be affected?

 

[SuspectUsual]

I'm not that player and nor are you, so how can you know how his confidence might be affected?

At the very least it's a case of "sh*t on the junior player".

Stokes wants to make it all about him, sod the rest of them and the fact it's a test match, he wants all the glory and a pathetic bit of slogging. Someone has to make way so obviously its Gay because he matters least and isn't yet a paid-up member of the England clique unlike Duckett, Bethel, Root and Brook

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

At lunch, England were 191-7 from 44 overs.

 

[Haywain]

At lunch, England were 191-7 from 44 overs.

And at 14:17 they were bowled out for 212, with Jamie Smith the last to fall, top scoring with 60. A disappointing but unsurprising result.

 

[ainsworth74]

And at 14:17 they were bowled out for 212, with Jamie Smith the last to fall, top scoring with 60. A disappointing but unsurprising result.

Fairly inevitable really considering what was going on last night. Falling 160 short with plenty of time to go is tantalising with "what could have been"...

Personally I'm not convinced that the vitriol that has been applied to Stokes is warranted but no doubt those that do will feel further vindicated. But my gaze is firmly planted in the direction of Key, McCullum and the ECB. I still reckon something has gone rotten in that relationship with the wider team (and its former captain) rather than this all being the fault of "selfish/egotistical/[insert preferred pejorative here]" Ben Stokes. He's never seemed that way when he's played for Durham...

 

[Falcon1200]

I'm not that player and nor are you, so how can you know how his confidence might be affected?

I know how I would feel in such a situation. And Michael Vaughan, who certainly knows more about cricket, and being a Test Match standard batsman, than me, has concerns also:

Relive New Zealand sealing a 2-1 series win over hosts on Ben Stokes' final day as an England player

Follow live text updates, radio commentary and in-play video highlights as England play New Zealand on day five of the third Test at Trent Bridge.

www.bbc.co.uk

Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

I feel for Emilio Gay, moving down to number six from opening. What is that going to do to him?

 

[Haywain]

Fairly inevitable really

Having been at Trent Bridge for days 2 and 3 I felt that the game was out of reach when we failed to get closer on the first innings scores. Within 40 or so runs I think we had a chance, but over 80 was too much. All of that happened before 3.25 pm. And then Mitchell put up an annoyingly stubborn fight which just help make the gap too big.

 

[75A]

The highlight of the series for me was the Umpiring of Rod Tucker, superb job.
Saw him in the flesh for the game with New Zealand @ Stormont and on TV for the 3 Tests in England, a real credit to the profession.

 

[Haywain]

The highlight of the series for me was the Umpiring of Rod Tucker, superb job.
Saw him in the flesh for the game with New Zealand @ Stormont and on TV for the 3 Tests in England, a real credit to the profession.

For an Australian he was very good.

 

[Bald Rick]

Fairly inevitable really considering what was going on last night. Falling 160 short with plenty of time to go is tantalising with "what could have been"...

Personally I'm not convinced that the vitriol that has been applied to Stokes is warranted but no doubt those that do will feel further vindicated. But my gaze is firmly planted in the direction of Key, McCullum and the ECB. I still reckon something has gone rotten in that relationship with the wider team (and its former captain) rather than this all being the fault of "selfish/egotistical/[insert preferred pejorative here]" Ben Stokes. He's never seemed that way when he's played for Durham...

Completely agree.

 

[SteveHFC]

The highlight of the series for me was the Umpiring of Rod Tucker, superb job.
Saw him in the flesh for the game with New Zealand @ Stormont and on TV for the 3 Tests in England, a real credit to the profession.

Rod Tucker is one of the best international umpires at the moment for sure.

 

[D1511]

It's clear to me that Rob Key is the problem.

 

[75A]

Talk about how the mighty have fallen.
India the current T20 World Cup Holders were beaten 2-0 by Ireland and are now 3-0 down with 1 to play against England.
In Bristol tonight they won the toss and limped to 7-158 with Archer impressing with 2-20 off his 4 overs.
England won by 9 wickets taking only 13 overs and 5 balls.
Brook top scored with 79 not out off only 35 balls.
The last game is in Southampton on Saturday, what are the odds on India winning that one?

 

[Bald Rick]

The last game is in Southampton on Saturday, what are the odds on India winning that one?

Slightly longer than evens.

 

[75A]

I'd have a tenner on em, surely not a complete whitewash. Yes I know one was a washout

 

[brad465]

England comfortably beating India again today after setting 257 runs, helped by a superb Buttler-Brook partnership. The Indian fielders' hands were slipperier than Farage's dodgy dealings.

 

[DarloRich]

Brendan McCullum sacked as England Test coach but remains as limited over coach. Rob Key remains as "Director" of cricket though. Both should have gone after the Ashes ( and the rest of the ECB blazers frankly)

Brendon McCullum has been sacked as Test coach in another staggering twist in the unravelling of the England team.

Two weeks after Ben Stokes made the stunning announcement to step down as captain and retire from international cricket, McCullum's exit brings a definitive end to the Bazball era.

The New Zealander will continue as England's white-ball coach, but leaves the Test team following a string of poor results and several off-field incidents.

Director of cricket Rob Key will remain in his position, with the decision to remove McCullum coming after the hierarchy of the England and Wales Cricket Board spent time reflecting on the situation surrounding the men's team.

Brendon McCullum sacked as England Test head coach but will retain white-ball role

England are now without a Test head coach and captain as Brendon McCullum leaves after four years in the role.

www.bbc.com

 

[SuspectUsual]

What a nonsense. How can they have any sort of working relationship now?

They both should have gone six months ago, and the fact Key survives like some post-nuclear cockroach says everything about the ECB and their nice chaps approach

 

[75A]

Crawley was Teflon for long enough but eventually common sense prevailed, let's see if it's the same with Key.

 

[JD2168]

Rather curious timing as surely McCullum should have gone after the Ashes series before this summer started. Feels as though once Stokes announced he was going the departure of McCullum was pretty inevitable & leaves me wondering how long Rob Key will continue in his job.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Rather curious timing as surely McCullum should have gone after the Ashes series before this summer started. Feels as though once Stokes announced he was going the departure of McCullum was pretty inevitable & leaves me wondering how long Rob Key will continue in his job.

The timing’s also a bit disrespectful to the women’s team coming halfway through their historic first test match at Lord’s and taking the focus away from them

 

[Jimini]

The timing’s also a bit disrespectful to the women’s team coming halfway through their historic first test match at Lord’s and taking the focus away from them

Agree with this 100%.

 

[43096]

The timing’s also a bit disrespectful to the women’s team coming halfway through their historic first test match at Lord’s and taking the focus away from them

And, adding to that, taking away from the retirements of two of the women's team's greatest batters.