Ben Stokes is scheduled to make his first appearance on the cricket field since retiring from international cricket, set to play for Durham against Derbyshire on Tuesday in the One-Day Cup. This marks his return to domestic cricket with his boyhood club.
Stokes announced an abrupt retirement from international cricket during England's third Test against New Zealand in the previous month. Before that match, the 35-year-old all-rounder missed the second Test due to an investigation into an incident. During his time away from the England team, Stokes played in Durham's County Championship match against Northamptonshire.
Stokes stated that while he developed "negative feelings" around playing for England, his return to county cricket has rekindled his love for the game. He expressed excitement about playing for Durham again, comparing the feeling to a "new lease of life." However, he also acknowledged that there have been tough moments that reinforced his decision to retire from international play.
Following his participation in the One-Day Cup, Stokes may also feature in Championship matches before the end of the season. His return coincides with the launch of the revamped version of The Hundred, a tournament that has seen significant investment with franchise stakes sold for approximately £520 million, leading to new team names, branding, and increased player earnings. Stokes did not enter The Hundred auction.
Stokes has not played any 50-over cricket since the 2023 World Cup, which was also his last limited-overs game for England. The match against Derbyshire will be his first domestic one-day fixture for Durham in 12 years. His most recent 50-over game for Durham was in the 2014 One-Day Cup final. His last domestic 50-over cricket elsewhere was a stint playing for Canterbury in New Zealand in 2017.
Since Stokes' retirement from international cricket, Brendon McCullum has been sacked as England Test coach. McCullum has stated he received "nice messages" from Stokes following the announcement.