England head coach Brendon McCullum has revealed that he tried to convince Ben Stokes to reconsider his decision to retire from international cricket, but the England captain had already made up his mind. Stokes announced his retirement during the fourth day of the decisive Trent Bridge Test against New Zealand, bringing the curtain down on one of the most remarkable international careers in modern cricket.

Speaking on the BBC’s Test Match Special, McCullum admitted he was taken aback when Stokes informed him of his decision. The former New Zealand captain said his first instinct was to ask Stokes to pause and reflect before making such a life-changing call. “When he told me, I tried to talk him out of it,” McCullum said. “I said, ‘Slow down. Let us just think about this.’ And he said, ‘No, Baz, I am done.’”

McCullum revealed there was a brief moment of silence before he expressed his emotions to the veteran all-rounder.

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“Then we sort of sat silent for about 10 seconds. I said, ‘I feel a bit sad.’ And he said, ‘I know. I am happy and I am content with everything. You know the time has come.’”

Despite the emotional announcement, Stokes remained committed to leading England one final time. In a surprising tactical move, the usual middle-order batter promoted himself to open the innings during England’s chase of 373, scoring a quickfire 30 off 20 balls before being dismissed.

However, England’s fairytale ending never materialised. The hosts suffered a defeat in the series decider, handing New Zealand a 2-1 Test series victory and ending Stokes’ international career on a losing note. It also marked England’s first home Test series defeat in a series of three or more matches since 2012.

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Stokes’ retirement comes during a challenging period for English cricket. Following a disappointing 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia earlier this year, McCullum and managing director Rob Key retained the backing of the England and Wales Cricket Board to oversee the team’s rebuilding process. With Stokes now stepping away from international cricket, England enters a new era, leaving McCullum and the management with the task of rebuilding the Test side around a new generation of leaders.