England captain Ben Stokes will retire from international cricket after the ongoing Test match with New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
Stokes told his England teammates in the dressing room on the morning of day four in Nottingham, and it was announced by the ECB while Stokes was on the field in the midst of an 11-over bowling spell as he attempted to haul England back into contention in the final Test of the series, which is tied 1-1.
It led to extraordinary scenes, as the crowd – on learning the breaking news – rose to give a standing ovation at the start of Stokes’ next over. Incredibly, Stokes responded by taking the wicket of New Zealand’s Zak Foulkes with the very next ball.
The news comes days after Stokes was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Cricket Regulator following an altercation at a nightclub earlier this month. The 35-year-old was suspended for one Test match by the ECB and told senior figures he was considering his long-term future, before returning to the team for the third Test.
Stokes was cagey in his pre-match press conference, giving no assurances and telling the media: “I understand there are probably some questions, but right now I’m here as captain of this team, and all I want to do is get the team focused on winning here.”
But he told his teammates the news on Sunday morning, appearing to catch them off-guard.
“There’s something I know is going to happen over the next two days, which is going to be [that] this is my last two days as your captain, and my last two days representing England,” Stokes told the group.
“Reasons can wait [as to] why. But I’ve had many trips to the well before for this team, for you blokes, for people beforehand and I’ve got one more trip to do. The only thing that I ask, please, is can everyone else please just do the same? We’ve got a lot of hard work still to do, and the only thing that I want is to be able to walk off the end of that field, regardless of the result, knowing that I’ve had this group … give everything for the last two days.”
It brings to an end one of the great England careers. Stokes was a key figure in the one-day international team’s 2019 World Cup glory and has been an inspirational leader for the Test side with bat and ball, having taken on the captaincy from Joe Root in 2022.
Perhaps his greatest innings was scoring 135 not out against Australia in the 2019 Ashes at Headingley. England needed an improbable 359 to win, but Stokes produced a remarkable knock under pressure, combining with No 11 Jack Leach in an unbeaten 76-run stand – to which Leach contributed one run – to snatch a famous one-wicket victory.
open image in galleryStokes’ penchant for heroic, near super-human feats on a cricket field elevated him to be among the world’s best players, one with a rare talent for batting, bowling and fielding too – his one-handed catch against South Africa during the 2019 World Cup remains is often included among the best in the history the game.
His star status made him a figure who transcended the game of cricket, becoming a household name in an era when Test cricket in particular has come under increasing threat in the battle for fans’ attention.
Stokes’ final chapter in international cricket was to be the figurehead of England’s ‘Bazball’ revolution in tandem with head coach Brendon McCullum, as they picked up a dismal Test team and transformed them into a thrilling, attacking force who could chase down monstrous targets and blow away elite bowling attacks.
The positivity around England’s bold approach began to fade as the novelty wore off and results became more inconsistent. The disappointing Ashes series over the winter – which Australia won 4-1 on home soil – provoked searching questions about the leadership, preparation and direction of the Test team.
ECB director Rob Key kept hold of his job despite significant pressure and insisted England should retain both McCullum and Stokes in their roles as coach and captain, with sights set on winning back the Ashes next summer. But Stokes has now taken matters into his own hands, bringing his England career to an end.
open image in galleryRichard Thompson, ECB Chair, said: “Ben Stokes leaves the international game as one of England’s greatest ever cricketers and one of the defining figures of his generation. His performances under pressure, his relentless competitiveness and his ability to produce the extraordinary when it matters most have given me and millions of other fans memories that will endure forever.
“Whether inspiring victory in the biggest moments – not least driving England to World Cup wins in 2019 and 2022 and his heroic Ashes innings at Headingley – or leading the Test team with courage and conviction, Ben has been a talismanic figure in English cricket.
“Beyond his remarkable achievements on the field, his performances have inspired many youngsters to embrace cricket with positivity and belief. We are losing a batsman, a bowler, a captain and a talisman. On behalf of the ECB, I want to thank Ben for everything he has given to our sport and wish him and his family every success and happiness for the future.”
Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, added: “Ben Stokes has made an immeasurable contribution to English cricket, not only through his exceptional skill as one of the world’s finest all-rounders, but through the commitment, resilience and passion he has demonstrated throughout his international career. His influence has extended far beyond statistics – inspiring teammates, supporters and young cricketers around the world through his leadership and unwavering desire to win.
“We are enormously grateful for his service to England and congratulate him on an extraordinary international career. His contribution to the game will be celebrated for many years to come.”