[Watch] “Kids Want To Bat, Bowl and Field Because Of You” – Joe Root’s Emotional Speech For Ben Stokes

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from the ODI format. He played his last ODI match earlier this week in front of his home crowd in Durham against South Africa. However, he did not have a great farewell, as the hosts won the match and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. After the match, veteran England batter Joe Root delivered an emotional farewell speech for Ben Stokes in the dressing room at the Riverside Stadium.

Last week, Ben Stokes took to Twitter to confirm his retirement from ODIs, as he wants to focus more on Tests and T20Is. The all-rounder has a great record in the 50-over format, scoring 2924 runs at an average of 39 and a strike rate of 95. England cricket shared a video on their social media featuring Joe Root’s speech for the all-rounder.

The former England skipper lauded Ben Stokes’s journey for England in ODI cricket. He also mentioned the 2019 ICC World Cup, where Ben Stokes won the country their first-ever world cup title. Speaking about the all-rounder on his ODI retirement, Joe Root said in the dressing room,

“Obviously, a lot of emotions will be running through you. There’s a lot running through me at the minute as a friend. But just to some things, I mean your performances throughout your career. Some of the things you’ve achieved on the field have been extraordinary. Whether it be in the (World) cup final, whether it be a number of things that you’ve done. Fifers, hundreds, incredible pieces of fielding.”

"Kids now want to bat, bowl and field because of the way you have gone about it and done it in an England shirt."@root66 with some lovely words after @benstokes38 played his final ODI ❤️ pic.twitter.com/mcGrmPyN18

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 22, 2022

Some of the things that you’ve done have captured a nation: Joe Root’s emotional message to Ben Stokes

Joe Root also expressed that Ben Stokes has grabbed the attention of the whole nation towards the sport. He added that the all-rounder has become a role model for many youngsters and kids who want to take up the game. Root stated that Ben Stokes has had a big impact on how white-ball cricket has changed over the last few years. He said,

“But I think it’s also important to remember that some of the things that you’ve done have captured a nation. They’ve brought people to the game that have never watched it before. Been a part of the team and been a big part and a leader of a team that’s changed the way a lot of people around the world play white ball cricket in its format. The same with kids now that want to bat, bowl and field because of the way you have gone about it.”

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