New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner was left aggrieved after becoming Ben Stokes’ 250th Test match victim as England claimed a perhaps contentious dismissal in the third Test at Trent Bridge.
Stokes reached 250 Test wickets with his fourth in the innings as England continued to fight back on the second morning.
A sharp short ball from the England captain drew a defensive fend from the left-handed Santner, with the ball looping to Jacob Bethell in the gully to reduce New Zealand to 413/7.
Santner immediately reviewed the decision made by standing umpire Nitin Menon, believing that the delivery had solely struck his arm guard and not the wristband attached to his glove.
Third umpire Adrian Holdstock looked at the footage and quickly determined that the ball had, in fact, flicked the wristband, asking Menon to uphold his on-field call.
Ben Stokes is on fire this morning!
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 26, 2026
A 250th Test match wicket for the England skipper 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Y6t1nZlB1l
Subsequently, though, host broadcaster Sky Sports showed an angle that appeared to cast significant doubt on the facts – which was not looked at by the experienced Holdstock.
Stokes certainly seemed clear on what had happened, wandering down and tapping Santner on the wristband after the initial decision had been given. Hot spot, which can show where a batter had been struck, has not been in use in England for some time.
The wicket continued an excellent spell from the England skipper, returning to the side for the series decider having missed the second Test at the Oval due to a disciplinary investigation.
Stokes had already removed Daryl Mitchell and Will O’Rourke in Nottingham on Friday morning, having broken the opening partnership of 317 between Tom Latham and Devon Conway late on Thursday night.
The 35-year-old became the ninth bowler to reach 250 Test wickets for England, and has the tallies of Brian Statham (252) and Graeme Swann (255) very much in his sights.
