England captain Ben Stokes announces retirement from cricket at age 35

NOTTINGHAM: England Test captain and all-rounder Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket. The 35-year-old confirmed that the ongoing third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge will be his final match for his country. Stokes informed his teammates about his decision on Sunday morning, the fourth day of the Test match.

Considered one of England’s greatest all-rounders, Ben Stokes made his international debut in 2011 and became the Test team captain in 2022. Under Stokes’ leadership, with Brendon McCullum as coach, England’s Test team adopted the aggressive “Bazball” style of cricket.

Stokes played key roles in some of England’s biggest achievements, including their 2019 ODI World Cup victory and the 2022 T20 World Cup triumph. One of the most memorable moments of his Test career came during the Ashes series against Australia at Headingley, where he scored a famous century and guided England to victory while batting with No. 11 Jack Leach.

Stokes’ highest Test score came in the 2016 Cape Town Test against South Africa, where he scored a brilliant 258 runs. His career has also seen difficult moments. During the 2016 T20 World Cup final in India, Stokes faced a heartbreaking moment when West Indies batsman Carlos Brathwaite hit four consecutive sixes off his bowling in the final over to win the match.