NOTTINGHAM: In a move that completely stunned cricket fans, England Test captain Ben Stokes announced his retirement from all international cricket on Sunday. The dramatic news came right in the middle of Day 4 of the final Test match against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
Stokes dropped the massive bombshell to his teammates in the dressing room before play started. The team later released a video on social media where Stokes told his squad that these would be his final days representing England. The official news went public just 15 minutes before the tea break, drawing a massive standing ovation from the crowd at the stadium.
True to his legendary style, right after the news broke, Stokes delivered a magical moment on the field. With his very first delivery after the announcement, he took a crucial wicket by getting New Zealand batter Zak Foulkes caught at second slip.
Stokes brings the curtain down on a glittering 15-year career that started back in 2011. He will always be remembered for winning the wild 2019 World Cup final for England and hitting a miracle, unbeaten 135 runs to beat Australia in the 2019 Ashes.
Since taking over as Test captain in 2022, Stokes teamed up with coach Brendon McCullum to create “Bazball”—a fearless, ultra-fast way of playing Test cricket that saved England’s red-ball team.
While Stokes told his teammates that the deep reasons behind his decision can wait for later, he admitted that he has given his absolute all to the team for years and has “one more trip to the well” left to finish this final match.
