England test captain Ben Stokes will retire from international cricket after the third test against New Zealand, concluding a career that featured the 2019 World Cup triumph and one of the most iconic Ashes innings in history. The announcement at Trent Bridge on Sunday drew a standing ovation from the crowd.
Stokes' Final Test and Emotional Farewell
The timing of the retirement news appeared intended to inspire his teammates to secure one last victory, with England facing a decisive third match in the series. Stokes, playing in his 122nd test, took a wicket with his first ball after the announcement. Opening for only the third time in his test career, Stokes partnered with Ben Duckett to chase a target of 373. He hit two sixes in the first five overs before being dismissed for 30, leaving the field to another standing ovation.
After the day's play, Stokes told Sky Sports: "It's the best thing that I've ever been asked to do captaining this team, captaining this country. It’s the greatest honour that can ever be put on your shoulders as a player but there's another side to it that people don't see and don't understand. Only the people close to you can really see what you do go through emotionally. As good as it is there are bits that do get you, do drain you and do affect you in a negative way but overall for four and a half years, or whatever it's been, I've loved every single moment of it."
In a video shared by the ECB, Stokes told his teammates: "The only thing that I want is to be able to walk off the end of that field, regardless of the result, knowing that I've had this group... give everything for the last two days. All the emotion, all that kind of stuff, please can we just wait for the end of the game?"
Guard of Honour and Career Highlights
Stokes received a guard of honour from New Zealand fielders and umpires as he came out to bat, and again from his teammates and New Zealand batters as he led England onto the field for the final session. The 35-year-old, who debuted internationally in 2011, has captained England's test team since 2022. Known for his fearless batting and defiant leadership, Stokes helped England win their first 50-over World Cup in 2019 with an unbeaten 84 in the final. His 135 not out at Headingley that same year, guiding England to a one-wicket win over Australia after they were bowled out for 67 in the first innings, is widely regarded as one of the greatest test innings of all time.
ECB Chairman's Tribute
ECB chair Richard Thompson said in a statement: "We are losing a batsman, a bowler, a captain and a talisman. His performances under pressure, his relentless competitiveness and his ability to produce the extraordinary when it matters most have given me and millions of other fans memories that will endure forever."
Off-Field Controversies and Bazball Legacy
Stokes had been dropped from the second test against New Zealand this month amid an investigation into a nightclub incident where he and teammate Gus Atkinson were alleged to have broken curfew. He was later cleared to return. In 2017, Stokes was arrested over a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub and was indefinitely suspended by the ECB. Despite these controversies, Stokes has had a huge on-field influence, helping implement a cultural reset in the England team by partnering with coach Brendan McCullum to introduce an aggressive brand of cricket nicknamed "Bazball." Adopting this swashbuckling approach, England in 2022 chased down a record target of 378 against India in 76.2 overs and swept a series 3-0 against reigning world test champions New Zealand. The same year, Stokes delivered a player-of-the-match performance at the T20 World Cup final to help England win the tournament for the second time. Stokes will continue to play for Durham.
