Overview
- The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed on Sunday that Stokes will retire from international cricket at the end of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
- Stokes told his teammates in an emotional dressing-room speech that “the reasons can wait” and asked the side to give everything for the final two days, a clip of which the ECB released on its social channels.
- The announcement came while Stokes was bowling and he took the wicket of Zak Foulkes with the very next delivery, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd.
- Earlier this month Stokes was left out of the second Test after breaching a team curfew following a nightclub incident; the ECB issued written warnings and the independent Cricket Regulator later said there was insufficient evidence to pursue further sanctions.
- Stokes departs after a 15-year career defined by match-winning moments and by leading England’s Bazball era, and his exit will trigger immediate decisions on captaincy, selection balance and team culture.