Ben Stokes’ magical knock at Headingley against Australia in 2019 defied all odds, as the England all-rounder, alongside No. 11 Jack Leach, pulled off one of the most improbable victories in Test history.

The innings was one of the major highlights of Stokes’ career.

England batter Tom Banton said Stokes — who retired from international cricket on Monday — had a huge impact on the game, and identified the Headingley epic as his favourite moment.

“His knock at Headingley, batting with my Somerset teammate Jack Leach, is something I’ll always remember. It’s something me and the Somerset boys always joke about with Jack Leach in the changing room,” Banton said in an online interaction on Tuesday.

Banton, who is part of the England squad that will take on India in the first T20I at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday, has been closely following the rapid rise of young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

“I try and watch every time Sooryavanshi plays — whether it’s in the IPL or with the India-A team. I think the most impressive thing is just how consistently he is doing it. He is obviously a special talent, and hopefully it continues for him,” Banton said.

The 27-year-old added that he hoped Sooryavanshi “gets a go” at international cricket, allowing “the world to see what he can do”.

(Watch England vs. India live – 1st T20I on July 1, 2026, from 10:00 PM IST on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD and Sony Max)

The guarded player and the maverick talisman. English cricket has often thrown up players in these two categories. In the segment of the magician star, lit up by Ian Botham, and briefly embellished by Andrew Flintoff, Ben Stokes walked in with the swagger of a pirate courting both thrills and self-destruction.

Born in New Zealand, but with talent burnished in England, Stokes always hinted that a sporting miracle was possible. Often, he delivered on that count, as player and captain, even if towards the end, an Ashes defeat Down Under and the latest trauma against the visiting Black Caps left him ragged.

As the 35-year-old called time on his international career, he leaves with fine statistics — 7273 Test runs and 252 wickets, besides critical numbers in limited-overs cricket too.

It was never easy for Stokes. He sat on his haunches after watching Carlos Brathwaite hammer him for four sixes in the 2016 ICC World T20 final at Eden Gardens. A lesser man would have dissipated, but Stokes emerged stronger.

As he departs, there will be talk about his mental health issues, which he candidly admitted. And there will be scrutiny over his wretched run-ins at watering holes. The latest episode during the current series against New Zealand left him on the bench for the second Test. Whether that forced him to walk away will remain a matter of speculation.

But in the larger picture, Stokes lent belief within the England ranks. He helped Old Blighty win its first 50-over World Cup, thanks to his heroics at Lord’s in 2019. In the same year, his unbeaten 135 humbled Australia in an Ashes joust at Headingley.

Stokes the batter may have outshone the bowler but he always ran in hard, was willing to be both the stock and shock bowler, while James Anderson and Stuart Broad gained the accolades. And as a left-handed exponent with the willow, he could scythe through the best attacks, and if needed down the shutters.

Obviously the synergy he shared with coach Brendon McCullum will be analysed as the duo believed that every move on the ground was an act of pressing forward towards victory. It was spectacular to watch when it worked and frustrating to endure when it backfired.

Stokes leaves with an aura even if his sporting twilight was dull. When nostalgia draws Botham into conversations, Stokes would not be far and that is a splendid achievement.

Ben Stokes’ hopes ‌of a winning send-off in his final international appearance were hanging by a ​thread in the third test with New Zealand on the brink of ⁠a series victory over England at the close on the fourth day at Trent Bridge on Sunday (June 28, 2026).

The hosts ended on 103-4, still needing 270 runs to secure a 2-1 victory in the series after New ‌Zealand declared their second innings on 288-9.

On the ground where Bazball was born four years ago with England chasing down 299 to beat New Zealand in ‌50 overs, the curtain will come down on the Stokes captaincy era at the ‌end ⁠of the match.

Led by Stokes, England blazed away in similar fashion in a ⁠breathless evening session but the loss of four wickets means New Zealand are in a dominant position heading into the fifth and final day.

“We’re slightly disappointed we find ourselves four down but we managed to make a big ​dent in it with the new ‌ball and make it easier for ourselves tomorrow,” said Joe Root, who is still unbeaten on nine.

“We’re still very much in the game and have taken a bit of the danger out.

“If we could finish with a series win, that would be the perfect ‌send-off for Ben.”

Stokes opens batting

Stokes announced his retirement during a lengthy afternoon spell with ​the ball and promoted himself to opener to launch a dizzying pursuit of a victory target of 373.

He hit Zak Foulkes over his head ⁠and into the stands off the 11th ball of the innings — the earliest any England player has hit a six in a test.

There was another six in the fourth over off Nathan ‌Smith before Stokes holed out to mid-wicket off Foulkes, for 30 off 20 balls, departing to a standing ovation.

Jacob Bethell went four balls later for a duck and Harry Brook, the favourite to succeed Stokes as test captain, followed for 21 from nine balls after hitting his first ball for six, giving concussion substitute Foulkes his third wicket.

The loss of Ben Duckett to Ben Sears in the penultimate over left England 103-4 after 15 wild overs.

New Zealand’s Daryl ‌Mitchell made a courageous 100 not out off 241 balls, overcoming a series of blows to the head, ​forearm and hands to complete his sixth test century. He struck ten fours and one six in a stay of almost seven hours.

Sears retired hurt ⁠with a finger injury but returned to the crease at the fall of the ninth wicket to ⁠help Mitchell reach his landmark.

He had earlier shared in a crucial fourth-wicket partnership of 129 with Rachin Ravindra who made 94.

“We knew we had to tick it ‌over and absorb and the fruits would come and Daryl, especially, showed that in the end,” said Ravindra.

“They came out with serious intent, but the boys bowled brilliantly. To ​have four wickets at the close is something we would have taken for sure.”

England captain Ben Stokes will retire from international cricket after the third test against New Zealand, the team said Sunday (June 28, 2026).

The announcement came midway through Day 4 of the test at Trent Bridge.

It ends Stokes’ 15-year international career that peaked when he starred for England in its win over New Zealand in the 50-over World Cup final in 2019.

He was also a key player in England’s T20 World Cup-winning team in 2022, the same year he became test captain. Stokes was dropped from the second test of the current series for disciplinary reasons after a night out after the first test.