Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket, with the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge set to be his final appearance for England. The 35-year-old informed the England squad of his decision before the start of play on Sunday (June 28), bringing the curtain down on an international career that began in 2011 and included leading England’s Test side since April 2022.
Widely regarded as one of England’s greatest-ever all-rounders, Stokes played defining roles in some of the country’s most iconic victories. He produced an unbeaten 84 in the 2019 ODI World Cup final against New Zealand and followed it up later that year with his unforgettable 135* at Headingley to inspire one of the greatest Ashes victories in history. His highest Test score of 258 came against South Africa in Cape Town in 2016.
Stokes’ retirement comes less than three weeks after he was involved in an off-field controversy following England’s victory in the opening Test against New Zealand. Stokes and Gus Atkinson breached the team’s midnight curfew and were reportedly present during an incident outside a London nightclub involving an ECB security staff member and a Saracens rugby player. With the Cricket Regulator’s investigation underway at the time, the ECB ruled both players unavailable for the second Test, with Joe Root stepping in as stand-in captain.
The Cricket Regulator later cleared both Stokes and Atkinson of any regulatory offence, concluding there was insufficient evidence to establish a breach of ECB Cricket Regulations. The ECB stated that “no blame should be attached to the players for violent conduct at the nightclub,” confirming that Stokes neither witnessed nor participated in the altercation, while Atkinson was the victim of an unprovoked attack and did not retaliate.
However, both players were found to have breached contractual obligations relating to maintaining the highest standards of conduct and acting in the best interests of England cricket. They were issued written warnings, with the ECB considering their omission from the second Test to be an adequate sanction.
Ahead of the series decider at Trent Bridge, England head coach Brendon McCullum dismissed suggestions that the incident had affected his relationship with Stokes.
“I said to him, as far as I’m concerned, I consider you a good friend. We’ve been through a lot together as a leadership group. We both want what’s best for English cricket, and we’re absolutely clear on the direction we want this team to take,” McCullum said.
After returning to the squad, Stokes revealed that one of his first acts was apologising to his teammates. Before the start of Day Four, however, he delivered an emotional address to the dressing room, urging his teammates to give everything one final time.
“This is my last two days as your captain and my last two days representing England. I’ve had many trips to the well for this team before, and I’ve got one more left. The only thing I ask is that everyone gives everything—not just for me, but for this team and what’s ahead for you all,” Stokes told the squad, in a video shared by the ECB.
The off-field episode marked an unexpected final chapter in a captaincy that otherwise transformed England’s Test fortunes. Since taking over from Joe Root in 2022, Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum revolutionised England’s approach to Test cricket with their aggressive “Bazball” philosophy. Under Stokes’ leadership, England won 24 Tests, lost 17 and drew only two before the Trent Bridge finale.
ECB Chair Richard Thompson paid tribute to Stokes’ extraordinary contribution to English cricket.
“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, relentless competitiveness and ability to produce the extraordinary when it mattered most have given millions of fans memories that will last forever,” Thompson said.
“Whether it was inspiring England to World Cup glory in 2019 and 2022 or producing his unforgettable innings at Headingley, Ben has been a talismanic figure. Beyond his achievements, he has inspired countless young cricketers with his positivity, courage and belief. We are losing a batsman, a bowler, a captain and a true leader.”
ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould added that Stokes’ impact extended far beyond numbers.
“Ben has made an immeasurable contribution to English cricket. His influence has gone beyond statistics, inspiring teammates, supporters and aspiring cricketers around the world through his leadership, resilience and desire to win. His contribution to the game will be celebrated for many years to come.”
Stokes becomes the second high-profile retirement during the series, following Kane Williamson, who announced his retirement from international cricket after the opening Test at Lord’s.
