LONDON: Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on a distinguished 15-year career with England.
According to a statement issued by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the ongoing Test against New Zealand in Nottingham will be Stokes’ final international appearance. The England captain informed his teammates of his decision before the start of play.
Speaking ahead of the third Test at Trent Bridge, Stokes had not ruled out the possibility that the match could be his last in international cricket.
Stokes’ retirement marks the end of a remarkable career that included four years as England’s Test captain. He made his international debut in a Twenty20 International in 2011 before earning his Test cap during the 2013 Ashes series in Adelaide. He took over as England’s Test captain in April 2022.
During his career, Stokes played 121 Tests, scoring 7,228 runs and claiming 246 wickets. In 114 One-Day Internationals, he amassed 3,463 runs and took 74 wickets, while in 43 T20 Internationals he scored 585 runs and picked up 26 wickets.
His retirement comes weeks after he missed the second Test at The Oval following an investigation into his attendance at a late-night celebration at a Chelsea nightclub after England’s victory at Lord’s. While the ECB and the cricket regulator issued him a written warning, he was cleared of any further misconduct, although the incident attracted widespread criticism.
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