Ben Stokes is retiring from international cricket after the current Test, bringing to a close one of the most transformative careers in English cricket history.
The England Test captain made the shock announcement to his teammates before play began on day four of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge on Sunday. Fighting back tears, he told the dressing room: “There’s something that I know is going to happen over the next two days, which is going to be, this is my last two days as your captain and my last two days representing England.”
In an emotional speech published on England’s official social media channels, Stokes asked his colleagues for one final effort. “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,” he said. “The only thing that I ask, please, is can everyone please just do the same.
“We’ve got a lot of hard work to do and the only thing that 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, for everyone to give it not only for me, selfishly, but also for this team and everything else we’ve got going forward, for you blokes.
“All the taps on the a**e, all the emotion, all that kind of stuff, please can we just wait for the end of this game? Because we’ve still got a s**tload more work to do and I’ve got a s**tload more work to do that I want to do. Let’s just go out there and f*****g give absolutely everything for another two days, because that’s my only intention and that’s where all my energy is right now. I’ve got the emotional side out of it, but now it’s time to go to work and everyone else, please just come with me.”
Emotional toll and recent controversy
Stokes had previously retired from ODI cricket in July 2022, citing the physical and mental demands of playing all three formats, though he later reversed that decision for the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The Durham all-rounder, born on June 4, 1991, in Christchurch, New Zealand, and raised in England after moving as a child, has been open about the strain of elite-level cricket across his 11-year international career.
The announcement came against a backdrop of recent off-field scrutiny. Stokes missed the second Test against New Zealand after being found to have breached team protocols — specifically curfew rules following a night out that involved an altercation with a Saracens rugby player and a security guard. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) investigated the incident and cleared him of blame for the physical altercation, but confirmed he had broken conduct rules.
Former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara expressed hope that the decision was not influenced by the controversy, describing it as a “sad way to go” if it were. The ECB’s chief executive officer, Richard Gould, paid tribute to Stokes’ overall contribution, saying the player had made an “immeasurable contribution to English cricket” through his skill, commitment, resilience and passion.
Stokes leaves a staggering legacy. He was a pivotal figure in England’s 2019 Cricket World Cup victory, top-scoring in the final and playing a crucial role in the Super Over, earning Player of the Match honours. He also helped England win the 2022 T20 World Cup with an unbeaten 52 in the final. His Test career features the second-fastest double century of all time — 258 off 163 balls against South Africa in 2016 — and a match-winning 135 not out against Australia in the 2019 Ashes at Headingley. He holds the Test world record for most runs in an innings at number six and shares the world record for the highest sixth-wicket stand with Jonny Bairstow (399). In February 2023, he set a new record for the most sixes in a Test career.
Appointed Test captain in April 2022, Stokes spearheaded the aggressive “Bazball” approach alongside coach Brendon McCullum, leading England to series victories in Pakistan, New Zealand and against South Africa. His captaincy record stands at 14 wins, eight losses and one draw from 23 Tests (including one as acting captain), a winning percentage of 60.9%. As captain, his personal batting average and strike rate improved markedly. He has been named Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World three times (2019, 2020, 2022) and received the ICC Award for Best Men’s Cricketer and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2019.
Player and team reactions
Stokes’ speech was met with a round of applause and a standing ovation from England’s players and staff in the Trent Bridge dressing room, a mark of the respect and affection he commands within the squad. The reaction from across the wider cricketing world, including former teammates and opponents, is expected to be equally heartfelt as one of the game’s most inspirational figures prepares to walk off the field for the final time in an England shirt.
