England-New Zealand decider gets twist on Day 4 as Stokes announces retirement amid Mitchell charge

England's Ben Stokes walks off after being caught by New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) England's Ben Stokes batting on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, right, celebrates reaching a century on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, right, celebrates reaching a half century on day four of the Third Rothesay Test in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) England's Ben Stokes, left looks on with teammates on day four of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) 1 / 5 Britain England New Zealand Cricket England's Ben Stokes walks off after being caught by New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) 1 / 5 Britain England New Zealand Cricket England's Ben Stokes walks off after being caught by New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) 2 / 5 Britain England New Zealand Cricket England's Ben Stokes batting on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) 3 / 5 Britain England New Zealand Cricket New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, right, celebrates reaching a century on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) 4 / 5 Britain England New Zealand Cricket New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, right, celebrates reaching a half century on day four of the Third Rothesay Test in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) 5 / 5 Britain England New Zealand Cricket England's Ben Stokes, left looks on with teammates on day four of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) (Joe Giddens/PA via AP) Associated Press Sun, June 28, 2026 at 12:13 PM UTC · 3 min read NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) — England captain Ben Stokes made a stunning mid-match retirement announcement, took a wicket off his very next ball and was later dismissed for an explosive 20-ball 30 as an opener in his final test innings as New Zealand finished an extraordinary Day 4 of the deciding test in line for a series-clinching win.