NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) 鈥� New Zealand is of clinching a test series victory over England and spoiling in international cricket.
England will begin the final day of the third and deciding test on 103-4, still needing 270 more runs in a seemingly forlorn chase of 373 to win on a deteriorating pitch at Trent Bridge. All hopes seem to rest with Joe Root, who is 9 not out, and he is alongside Emilio Gay (6 not out) in the middle as the only specialist batters left for England.
Not since 1999 have the New Zealanders won a series in England containing three tests or more, but they are huge favorites now to clinch a 2-1 win.
For England, it would be a first defeat in a home series of three or more tests since 2012 鈥� and a sad way for Stokes to depart.
The allrounder announced Sunday 鈥� first to his stunned teammates in the dressing room before play, and then to the wider world via a statement just before the tea interval 鈥� that he’ll be stepping down as England captain after four years and retiring from the international game completely.
The final day of his , era-defining England career will likely be spent watching the game from the balcony outside the team’s dressing room, having already been dismissed for 30.
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