Ben Stokes will retire from international cricket after the ongoing Test match against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. Stokes informed his England teammates in the dressing room on the morning of day four in Nottingham, and the England and Wales Cricket Board later announced the decision while he was bowling an 11-over spell in the final Test of the series, which is level at 1-1.
The announcement created emotional scenes as the crowd, after hearing the news, stood up to applaud Stokes at the start of his next over. Stokes then produced a memorable moment by dismissing Zak Foulkes with the very next delivery.
Ben Stokes gets a wicket just moments after the news broke that he is retiring from international cricket 😲🚨 pic.twitter.com/rCZknWSeuG
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 28, 2026
The news came just days after Ben Stokes was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Cricket Regulator following an incident at a nightclub earlier this month. The 35-year-old was suspended for one Test by the England and Wales Cricket Board and later informed senior officials that he was thinking about his long-term future before returning to the side for the third Test.
Stokes remained guarded during his pre-match press conference, offering no clear assurance as he told the media:
“I understand there are probably some questions, but right now I’m here as captain of this team, and all I want to do is get the team focused on winning here.”
However, he informed his teammates about the decision on Sunday morning, seemingly taking them by surprise.
“There’s something I know is going to happen over the next two days, which is going to be [that] this is my last two days as your captain, and my last two days representing England,” Stokes told the group.
“Reasons can wait [as to] 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 thing that I ask, please, is can everyone else please just do the same? We’ve got a lot of hard work still to do, and the only thing that I want is to be able to walk off the end of that field, regardless of the result, knowing that I’ve had this group … give everything for the last two days.”
One of England's all-time greatest captains, Ben Stokes, has decided to retire from international cricket at the end of this Test match.
Ben, you have been the most inspirational captain, leader and legend this team could have ever hoped for.
We love you so much and wish you… pic.twitter.com/U5grq0F0kj
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 28, 2026
This marks the end of one of England’s finest cricket careers. Ben Stokes played a major role in England’s 2019 World Cup triumph and became an inspiring leader of the Test team with both bat and ball after taking over the captaincy from Joe Root in 2022.
Stokes Unbeaten 135 Shines in 2019 Ashes
One of his most memorable innings came during the 2019 The Ashes against Australia at Headingley, where he scored an unbeaten 135. Chasing an unlikely target of 359, Ben Stokes produced a stunning knock and shared an unbroken 76-run partnership with Jack Leach, who contributed just one run, helping England secure a famous one-wicket win.
Stokes’ ability to deliver extraordinary performances under pressure made him one of the world’s best cricketers. His all-round brilliance in batting, bowling, and fielding set him apart, while his one-handed catch against South Africa in the 2019 World Cup is still considered among cricket’s greatest catches.
His immense popularity also made him a figure bigger than the sport, becoming a household name at a time when Test cricket has faced growing challenges in attracting fans. Ben Stokes played a key role in England’s Bazball era alongside head coach Brendon McCullum, helping transform the Test side into an aggressive and exciting team.
However, inconsistent results and a disappointing The Ashes loss to Australia raised questions over the team’s direction. Despite support from ECB director Rob Key, Stokes has decided to bring his England career to an end.
Richard Thompson, ECB Chair, stated:
“Ben Stokes retires as one of England’s greatest cricketers. His match-winning performances, leadership, and remarkable all-round ability have left a lasting impact on English cricket and inspired fans and young players around the world.”
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