Ben Stokes, one of England's most celebrated cricketers, has announced his immediate retirement from international cricket, stating that the decision is the "best thing for me right now." His final match will be the current Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, concluding a 15-year international career that spanned 122 Test matches, 114 one-day internationals, and 43 T20s.
Stokes, 35, indicated that the demanding nature of the sport had led to burnout, a sentiment he has contemplated since England's 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia. He described experiencing negative feelings about his career during the Lord's Test this summer, noting that he had "burned myself out" by working extremely hard to rectify issues he perceived upon returning from Australia.
While Stokes stated that the decision was not a direct consequence of a recent incident that made him unavailable for England's second Test against New Zealand, he acknowledged that it "added" to his thoughts about retiring. He referenced a moment in the dressing room with Joe Root and "another scenario" that contributed to his decision.
Stokes expressed hope that his retirement would be beneficial for the England team moving forward and would allow him to continue enjoying the game that has given him so much.