England well beaten by New Zealand as Ben Stokes era ends on a low note

Ben Stokes saw his international career end in defeat, watching from the balcony as his England side surrendered the series decider against New Zealand to mark the end of an era.

After the sugar rush drama of Sunday, when news of Stokes’ retirement broke mid-session and dominated the agenda, Trent Bridge witnessed the comedown of a 160-run defeat in the third Test.

This time there were no surprises left, England simply put away by an opposition too good, too professional and too hungry to let them off the hook or hand the outgoing skipper his fairytale finish.

England were bowled out for 212 midway through the final day to go down 2-1 – their first home series defeat since Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum took charge four years ago.

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Damaging losing habit

Not since 2012 have England lost a home series of at least three matches, a result that spelled the end of Andrew Strauss’ captaincy.

As well as a considerable legacy of his own, Stokes leaves behind a team that has developed a damaging losing habit, beaten seven times in their last nine Test outings, including a watershed 4-1 Ashes defeat in the winter.

Whether he is the only casualty of that sorry sequence remains to be seen, but McCullum and managing director Rob Key will need to oversee a sharp improvement to remove question marks over their future.

England had already dug themselves a hole on Sunday evening, hitting the skids after Stokes reassembled the batting order and cast himself as a tone-setting opener.

Slim prospects fade

Their slim prospects had been largely extinguished before Stokes led them to the ground one final time, stopping to sign autographs for a handful of waiting fans, with 270 still to get on a pitch offering little reassurance.

From 103 for four overnight, they slipped to 116 for six in the first 15 minutes.

The equation, and the occasion, was too much for Emilio Gay.

Making just his third Test appearance, and shunted down from opener to number six following the reshuffle, he endured a couple of near misses before departing in the fourth over when Nathan Smith grazed his outside edge.

Tumbled

Not for the first time, the weight of responsibility fell on Joe Root’s shoulders, but he did not even face another delivery.

Called through for a quick single from the non-striker’s end just four balls after Gay’s dismissal, he fell victim to an outstanding run-out from Henry Nicholls.

Picking up quickly at point he tumbled backwards and unleashed a low, flat throw at a single stump for a remarkable direct hit.

A rapid finish looked to be in store for the crowd that had taken advantage of Nottinghamshire’s free-entry policy, but Jamie Smith and Atkinson stopped the rot.

The pair opted for a more conservative approach as they held firm for 23 overs against a depleted attack carrying two walking wounded in Ben Sears and Will O’Rourke.

End in sight

There were moments of uncertainty, mostly due to low and inconsistent bounce, but nothing fatal as England got a glimpse of what might have been in a more considered chase.

Smith was still alive to boundary options, whipping straight balls off his pads and clobbering Mitchell Santner for a big straight six, while Atkinson settled in to the supporting role.

The latter was prised out shortly before the break, lbw to Santner’s left-arm spin for a hard-fought 19.

The end was in sight, for England and Stokes, when Jofra Archer was caught behind attempting to leave one and Josh Tongue run out by another clinical piece of fielding from Santner.

Smith was last man out, holing out for a hard-fought 60 to seal New Zealand’s statement win and close the chapter on Stokes’ England.

READ MORE: Ben Stokes admits England captaincy ‘does drain you’ after retirement decision