England captain Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a remarkable 15-year career that established him as one of England’s greatest-ever all-rounders.
The 35-year-old made the announcement on the fourth day of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. Stokes informed his teammates in the dressing room on Sunday morning before the news became public shortly before the tea interval while England were in the field.
Speaking after the announcement, Stokes admitted the dressing room was stunned by his decision.
“It was a shock,” he said. “Brendon McCullum was pretty taken aback.”
Stokes retires after an outstanding international career that included 122 Test matches, 114 One-Day Internationals, and 43 T20 Internationals. He finishes with 7,273 Test runs and 252 wickets, becoming only the second player in cricket history after Jacques Kallis to achieve the remarkable double of 7,000 Test runs and 250 wickets.
Explaining his decision, Stokes said it was the right time to step away from the international game.
“It might sound quite selfish, but this decision is genuinely the best thing for me right now. I hope it’s the best thing for the team going forward, but I also hope it’s what will allow me to keep loving this game that has given me so much.”
The England captain revealed he had been contemplating retirement since England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia last winter. Those thoughts intensified during the first Test of the summer at Lord’s, which he described as “a very, very strange week” that brought back negative feelings about his future in the game.
“I’d worked so hard since getting home to put things right, or at least that’s what I thought I was doing. I put so much time and effort into doing that and I just burned myself out,” Stokes explained.
He also addressed the recent nightclub incident that led to his absence from the second Test at The Oval. Although the controversy contributed to his thinking, Stokes insisted it was not the primary reason behind his retirement.
“There was a build-up to it. Another scenario happened that added to it. It’s never easy with me, is it,” he said with a smile.
A brief return to county cricket with Durham ultimately gave him the clarity he needed.
“Over the last 12 months there have been moments where I felt like I haven’t loved it. Last week back with Durham, there wasn’t a moment when I didn’t. Being able to compare that feeling with being here made me realize it was time.”
Stokes also reflected on the emotional demands of leading England since taking over the Test captaincy in 2022.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever been asked to do, captain this team and captain this country. But there’s another side to it that people don’t see. As rewarding as it is, it can drain you emotionally.”
In fitting fashion, Stokes produced another memorable performance after the announcement. He claimed a wicket with his very first delivery after the news became public before promoting himself to open England’s second innings, smashing a quickfire 30 from just 20 balls.
Former England captain Joe Root summed it up perfectly, calling it “the most Ben thing ever.”
Stokes made his Test debut during the 2013-14 Ashes in Adelaide and went on to enjoy one of the finest careers in English cricket history. He played a pivotal role in England’s historic 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup triumph, helped the team win the 2022 T20 World Cup, and produced one of the greatest Test innings ever with his unforgettable Headingley heroics during the 2019 Ashes.
As Test captain, Stokes partnered with head coach Brendon McCullum to transform England’s red-ball approach with the aggressive style famously known as “Bazball.”
With England’s next Test series still several weeks away, the selectors now have time to identify Stokes’ successor. Harry Brook, who currently captains England’s white-ball sides and serves as vice-captain in Test cricket, is considered the leading candidate to take over the role.
