Daijiworld Media Network - Nottingham
Nottingham, Jun 28: England captain Ben Stokes has announced that he will retire from international cricket at the end of the ongoing three-Test series against New Zealand, bringing to a close a distinguished career that produced some of the most memorable moments in English cricket history.
The 35-year-old informed his teammates of his decision before the start of play on the fourth day of the third and final Test at Trent Bridge. Stokes will complete the remaining two days of the match before officially ending his international career.
In an emotional address to the squad, Stokes urged his teammates to remain fully focused on finishing the Test strongly, saying he wanted everyone to give their maximum effort during his final appearance for England.
"The reasons can wait, but I've been through many tough times for this team, for all of you, and for those who came before us. I have one more challenge to get through," Stokes said in a video shared by England Cricket.
He appealed to the players to give everything on the field over the final two days, adding that his only wish was to leave the game knowing the team had given its absolute best, regardless of the result.
Stokes said he had already dealt with the emotional aspect of his decision and wanted the team's complete focus to remain on the match.
The announcement follows a difficult week for the England skipper, who missed the second Test after an incident at a London nightclub. Before returning to lead the side at Trent Bridge, Stokes had hinted at uncertainty over his future by referring only to captaining England "this week."
Widely regarded as one of England's greatest all-rounders and match-winners, Stokes played a defining role in several of the country's biggest cricketing triumphs.
His unbeaten 84 in the dramatic 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup final against New Zealand helped England secure their maiden ODI World Cup title. Just weeks later, he produced one of the finest Test innings in history with an unbeaten 135 at Headingley to guide England to a remarkable Ashes victory over Australia.
Stokes also played a key role in England's triumph at the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, further cementing his reputation as one of the game's finest performers under pressure.
He will conclude his international career having represented England in 122 Test matches, including 44 as captain, alongside 114 One-Day Internationals and 43 Twenty20 Internationals.
Paying tribute to Stokes, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) hailed his immense contribution to English cricket, describing him as one of the country's greatest competitors and most influential players.
The ECB said Stokes consistently delivered in the biggest moments, helping England win World Cup titles in 2019 and 2022 while leading the Test team with courage and determination. It also praised his ability to inspire young cricketers and highlighted that his retirement marks the departure of an exceptional batter, bowler, captain and leader.
The board thanked Stokes for his outstanding service to English cricket and wished him and his family success and happiness in the future.