England captain Ben Stokes scored 30 in what will be his final Test appearance after confirming his decision to step away from international cricket.
Stokes is set to bring the curtain down on a four-year spell as England’s Test leader when the ongoing third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge concludes.
The surprise announcement comes just days after the 35-year-old returned to captain the side, having sat out the 253-run defeat at the Oval while being investigated by the Cricket Regulator and the ECB over a post-midnight incident following England’s first-Test victory at Lord’s.
Stokes informed his team-mates of his decision to end a 15-year England career before play began on the fourth day.
Ahead of the match, he had declined to discuss anything beyond the series decider, insisting his attention was fixed solely on the week in front of him.
‘Ben Stokes leaves the international game as one of England’s greatest ever cricketers and one of the defining figures of his generation. 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,’ said ECB chair Richard Thompson.
Ben Stokes informed his England team-mates before play that he will retire from international cricket after the fourth Test against New Zealand
Stokes was applauded after making his announcement before the start of play at Trent Bridge
‘Whether inspiring victory in the biggest moments – not least driving England to World Cup wins in 2019 and 2022 and his heroic Ashes innings at Headingley – or leading the Test team with courage and conviction, Ben has been a talismanic figure in English cricket.
‘Beyond his remarkable achievements on the field, his performances have inspired many youngsters to embrace cricket with positivity and belief. We are losing a batsman, a bowler, a captain and a talisman.
‘On behalf of the ECB, I want to thank Ben for everything he has given to our sport and wish him and his family every success and happiness for the future.’
Within two minutes of his decision becoming public, word had spread round the stands at Trent Bridge, and he walked back to his mark to begin a 25th over of the innings to a standing ovation.
In typical Stokes fashion, roared into the crease by the near 17,000 crowd, he found the edge of Zak Foulkes’ bat and Harry Brook took the catch at second slip.
Earlier, he told his team-mates in an emotional goodbye: ‘Reasons can wait.’
Adding: ‘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. The only thing that I ask, please, is can everyone else please just do the same?
‘We’ve got a lot of hard work still to do, and 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 of men – and one lady – give everything for the last two days.’
Stokes took the wicket of Zak Foulkes just minutes after his decision was made public
The departing England captain was mobbed by his team-mates after taking the wicket
Stokes has been one of England’s most dynamic match winners, hitting a dramatic, 84 not out in the 2019 World Cup final and another unbeaten half-century to get his team over the line in winning the Twenty20 World Cup final in Australia three years later.
He also completed one of Test cricket’s greatest heists when he guided England to a one-wicket success over Australia in the 2019 Ashes at Headingley.
Clearly trying to inspire one more amazing performance from his players as a send-off, he finished his dressing room address by saying: ‘The only thing is want is just for everyone to give it, not only for me, selfishly, but also for this team and everything else that we’ve got going forward for you blokes.
‘All the taps on the a***, all the emotion, all that kind of stuff, please can it just wait until the end of this game? Because we’ve still got a shitload more work to do, and I’ve got a shitload more work to do that I want to do.
‘Let’s just go out there and f***ing give absolutely everything for another two days, alright? Because that’s my only intention and that’s where all my energy is right now. Got the emotional side out of it, but now it’s time to work. And everyone else, please just come with me.’
Stokes then made another bold move as he came out to open the batting with England chasing 373 to win and give him a perfect send-off.
