England captain Ben Stokes announces retirement from international cricket
England cricket captain Ben Stokes has announced he will retire from international cricket at the end of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand.
Ben Stokes, one of England's finest cricketers, has made a stunning announcement to end his international career at the conclusion of the third Test against New Zealand. The 35-year-old all-rounder was in the middle of a bowling spell at Trent Bridge when a statement confirming his intention was released.
Moments after the crowd learned the news, Stokes took a wicket, dismissing Zak Foulkes caught by vice-captain Harry Brook at second slip, prompting rapturous scenes.
Stokes missed England's second Test after being involved in an incident at a London nightclub. Before returning to lead the team in Nottingham, he had only referred to leading the team "this week".
Stokes told his England teammates of his decision before the fourth day of the deciding Test against the Black Caps. Clearly emotional, he said in the dressing room: "The reasons can wait, why, but 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 that I ask, please, is can everyone do the same. We've got a lot of hard work to do and the only thing I want is to be able to walk off that field, regardless of the result, knowing that I've had this group give everything for the last two days."
