Ben Stokes to Play for Durham in One‑Day Cup after Shock International Retirement

His return follows a June 29 mid‑Test retirement driven by burnout and leaves England with a void in leadership to fill

Overview

Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket on June 29 during England’s third Test against New Zealand, ending a 15‑year England career and four years as Test captain.
He is confirmed to make his first competitive appearance since retiring by playing for Durham in the One‑Day Cup opener against Derbyshire when the tournament begins on July 21.
Stokes missed England’s second Test while an investigation examined an incident at a London nightclub, a process that fed public scrutiny of player conduct and team culture.
He has no contract for The Hundred after opting out of that season’s auction and did not register for the 2025 IPL mega‑auction, which limits his immediate IPL availability while winter franchise options such as SA20 are being discussed.
Stokes says county cricket gave him a renewed enjoyment of the game, a change that has practical consequences for England’s selection and coaching structure following the dismissal of Test coach Brendon McCullum.