GUWAHATI: England captain Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious 15-year career at the conclusion of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
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The announcement came in dramatic fashion on Sunday, June 28, just 15 minutes before the tea break on Day 4 of the Test. Moments after the news was made public, Stokes claimed a wicket and received a standing ovation from the Trent Bridge crowd as he walked off the field with his teammates at the end of the session.
Earlier in the day, the 35-year-old informed the England dressing room of his decision in an emotional address.
"This is my last two days as your captain and my last two days representing England," Stokes told his teammates in a video shared by England Cricket on social media.
"The reasons can wait why. But I've had many trips to the well before for this team, and I've got one more trip to do," he added.
Stokes made his international debut in England's white-ball side in 2011 before earning his maiden Test cap during the 2013 Ashes series in Adelaide. Over the next decade and a half, he established himself as one of England's greatest all-rounders and one of the defining cricketers of his generation.
His most iconic moment came in the 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup final, when his unbeaten 84 against New Zealand helped England force a Super Over and secure their maiden World Cup title. Weeks later, he produced one of Test cricket's greatest innings, smashing an unbeaten 135 at Headingley to lead England to an extraordinary one-wicket Ashes victory over Australia.
Stokes also played a pivotal role in England's triumph at the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, further cementing his legacy across formats.
As a Test batter, his highest score of 258 came against South Africa in Cape Town in 2016. Renowned for his ability to influence matches with both bat and ball, Stokes became England's ultimate match-winner despite battling repeated injuries in recent years, including hamstring and shoulder problems.
In 2022, he succeeded Joe Root as England's Test captain and transformed the team's approach to red-ball cricket. Under his leadership, England embraced an aggressive style of play marked by fearless batting, bold declarations and attacking tactics, revitalising the side and making it one of the most entertaining teams in world cricket.
Stokes will now look to end his international career on a winning note as England completes the third Test against New Zealand, marking the end of one of the most remarkable careers in English cricket history.