Ben Stokes of England will retire from international one-day cricket after the series opener against South Africa on Tuesday in Durham. In 104 One-Day Internationals, the 31-year-old has scored 2,919 runs, including three centuries, and claimed 74 wickets.
Stokes, who took over as Test captain in April, will continue to play Twenty20 cricket while still guiding the red-ball side. “Three formats are simply untenable for me right now,” he explained. “This has been a really difficult decision to make. I’ve enjoyed every minute of representing England alongside my teammates. We’ve had a wonderful journey so far.”
When it comes to one-day cricket, Stokes will be most known for his player-of-the-match effort in England’s 2019 World Cup victory against New Zealand at Lord’s, where the left-hander made 84 not out to force a super over that Eoin Morgan’s team won on boundary countback.
He made the decision to skip the Hundred competition this season last week in order to balance his workload, and as a result, he was not included in England’s T20 squad for the upcoming matches against South Africa.
Stokes continued: “Even though this was a difficult decision to make, accepting the fact that I can no longer give my teammates my all in this format is not as difficult. Nobody should wear the England jersey any less honourably.” I feel like my body is failing me in addition to what is required of us due to the schedule, and I also feel like I am replacing a guy who can give Jos [Buttler, England’s one-day skipper] and the team their best. It’s time for another cricketer to develop and create unforgettable memories, just like I have over the past 11 years.
“I have enjoyed every one of the 104 games I have played so far. I still have one left, and it feels fantastic to be playing my final game at my Durham home field. The England supporters have always supported me and will do so in the future. The world’s best fans are you.
Following England’s 2-1 series victory over India, in which he scored 48 runs over the course of three innings while only bowling three overs, Stokes made his decision.
The 50-over championship defence for England will take place in India in October 2023, and with Morgan’s retirement in July, they now have two openings to fill in a middle order that has struggled to score runs this summer.
The upcoming T20 World Cup will take place in October of this year, but Stokes hasn’t represented England in that competition since March of 2021 since he took a summer off from cricket to improve his mental health.
