BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountHomeNewsSportEarthReelWorklifeTravelCultureFutureMusicTVWeatherSoundsMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportEarthReelWorklifeTravelCultureFutureMusicTVWeatherSoundsClose menu BBC SportMenuHomeWorld CupFootballCricketFormula 1Rugby UTennisGolfCyclingAthleticsMoreA-Z SportsAmerican FootballAthleticsBasketballBoxingCricketCyclingDartsDisability SportFootballFormula 1Gaelic GamesGolfGymnasticsHorse RacingMixed Martial ArtsMotorsportNetballOlympic SportsRugby LeagueRugby UnionSnookerSwimmingTennisFull Sports A-ZMore from SportEnglandScotlandWalesNorthern IrelandNews FeedsHelp & FAQsEngland MenScores & FixturesTablesSquadRetirement the best thing for me - StokesTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played 'There's so much people don't see' - Stokes on retirement decision Cricket Correspondent at Trent BridgePublished28 June 2026, 19:23 BSTUpdated 2 hours agoBen Stokes said retiring from international cricket is the "best thing" for him after he revealed England's final Test against New Zealand will be his last. The 35-year-old, one of the greatest cricketers to ever play for England, made the stunning announcement on the fourth day of the deciding Test at Trent Bridge. It means his international career will end on Monday after 15 years, 122 Tests, 114 one-day internationals and 43 T20s. "It might sound quite selfish but this decision is genuinely the best thing for me right now," Stokes told Sky Sports. "I hope it's the best thing for the team going forward but I also hope it's what will allow me to keep loving this game that has given me so much." The all-rounder denied the decision was made as a direct result of events in the past three weeks, when he was made unavailable for England's second Test against New Zealand following an incident in a London nightclub. Instead, he said he had been considering ending his career since England's 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, and had further thoughts of retiring during the first Test of the summer at Lord's. "The Lord's Test, for me, was something that brought back negative feelings about where I was in my career," he said. "I'd worked so hard since getting home [from Australia] to put things right, or at least that's what I thought I was doing. I put so much time and effort into doing that and I just burned myself out." However, Stokes did confirm the nightclub controversy "added" to thoughts of calling time. "There was a build-up to it, how things were during the whole week at Lord's and then another moment when I sat next to Joe Root in the dressing room," he said. "Obviously another scenario happened that added to it. It's never easy with me, is it? It was an unfortunate situation to be involved in over the past two weeks." To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played 'This is remarkable' - Stokes gets guard of honour as he opens batting Published3 hours agoEngland will miss Stokes' winning persona - Vaughan Published4 hours agoTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played 'I think he's had enough' - Is it the right time for Stokes to step away? When Stokes was away from the England team for the second Test, he played for Durham and said returning to his county rekindled a love for the game. He confirmed he will continue to play domestic cricket. "Being back at Durham, when I wasn't playing in the second Test, I found a new lease of life for the game, but unfortunately I just couldn't get that feeling back this week," said Stokes. "I'm very excited about the next part of what I get to do. Going back to playing for my boyhood club Durham, I'm comparing this week to that week - right now I am buzzing, but there have been moments this week that have been really tough and it just adds to everything and it makes it clear that I've made the right decision." Stokes said he made the retirement decision when he was putting on his pads to prepare to bat in England's first innings at Trent Bridge on Saturday. He told former captain Joe Root and vice-captain Harry Brook on Saturday evening, then revealed the news to the rest of the team on Sunday morning. "It's been an interesting four or five weeks, maybe six months in general," added Stokes. "There are all kinds of emotions when this day comes - relief, happiness, excitement, sadness. Everything that you go through. "It's the best thing that I've ever been asked to do, captaining England. It is the greatest honour to have on your shoulders but there is also another side to it that people don't see, only those closest to you see it. "My family, my wife, they see the bits where it does drain you and it does affect you negatively." Published1 hour agoEngland captain Ben Stokes announces retirement Published6 hours agoTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played 'The show is over' - Stokes goes out swinging in his final Test innings Stokes has had to battle a number of severe injuries across his career, including a left-knee problem that restricted his bowling in 2023 and 2024. Later in 2024 he suffered two hamstring injuries, followed by a shoulder problem in the summer of 2025. He ended the Ashes with an adductor problem, then suffered a horrific broken cheek when struck by a ball while coaching the Durham academy. In 2021, Stokes also took a break from the game to prioritise his mental health. "Everyone says that moment [when you decide to retire] kicks you straight in the face and I thought it did a few weeks ago," said Stokes.
Original Source: BBC Sport
0 Comments