Ben Stokes will retire as England Men’s Test captain and from international cricket at the end of their series with New Zealand.
Stokes will end his England career after the conclusion of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, with the announcement made during the afternoon session – while he was bowling – on the fourth day of the series decider.
The Durham all-rounder made his white-ball debut in 2011 and his Test debut during the 2013/14 Ashes series in Australia, with Stokes captaining the Test side since April 2022.
Stokes’ future was questioned when he was left out of the second Test against New Zealand earlier this month, following an investigation into an incident in a London nightclub.
The 35-year-old returned as captain for the series decider against New Zealand, where he told England team-mates of his decision to end his glittering international career before the fourth day against the Black Caps.
In a message to the England team before day four, Stokes said: “This is my last two days as your captain and the last two days representing England.
“The reasons can wait 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 do the same? We’ve got a lot of hard work to do and the only thing I want is to be able to walk off that field, regardless of the result, knowing that I’ve had this group give everything for the last two days.
“That’s the only thing I want is for everyone to give it, not only for me, selfishly, but also for this team and everything else we’ve got going forward or you blokes.
“I’ve got the emotional side out of it. Now it’s time to go to work. Please, everyone else come with me.”
Stokes retires as ‘one of England’s greatest’
Stokes has been involved in numerous generational highlights during his lengthy England career, firing an unbeaten 84 during the 2019 ICC World Cup Final against New Zealand that was won in a Super Over.
His highest Test score was a brutal 258 off 198 balls against South Africa in 2016, while his unbeaten 135 at Headingley during the third Ashes Test against Australia in 2019 dragged England to one of their most dramatic victories.
Richard 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.”
More to follow…
