Ben Stokes retires from international cricket at Trent Bridge

sportsJun 28, 202652816

England captain Ben Stokes announced during the ongoing third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge that he will retire from international cricket after this match. The news was met with a standing ovation at Trent Bridge, and Stokes took a wicket on the very next delivery after the announcement. England confirmed the retirement will take effect at the end of the third Test. The timing ends Stokes’s current spell as England captain midmatch and leaves the side needing to appoint new leadership and plan for a post-Stokes rebuilding phase.

Sam Freedman

@samfr.bsky.social

Ben Stokes is retiring from international cricket at the end of the current test match. Wow.

1174h ago

Sam Freedman105

Amazing moment. The crowd all found out and gave him a massive ovation and the next ball he got a wicket.

Andrew Howard11

Furious about this. Keys and McCullum’s management of the Ashes prep was farcical. The review appears to result in only Zak Crawley (who did exactly what was reasonably expected of him in Aus) and Stokes being sacrificed. Proper Lions and Donkeys stuff.

Jon5

Wish the ECB management were going instead.

jasonroberts3114.bsky.social5

He is going to be sorely, sorely missed by English cricket. Not sure how the Stokes-shaped hole is going to be filled, especially in the context of the Ashes next summer. 🤔

Andrew White2

Did the other players know - shades of Ziggy Stardust?

Jon Horrocks2

We have no obvious replacement as captain and definitely no replacement as a player.

Quoting this

Jeremy Benson2

The main problem with Stokes is that he’s irreplaceable.

Liam Thorp

@liamthorp.bsky.social

Taking a wicket immediately after receiving a standing ovation for your retirement is the most Ben Stokes thing ever. England Cricket legend. We will miss him so much.

1024h ago

Quoting this

Will Cooling3

He's a messy bitch, but then again, so are we. Godspeed you crazy bastard

Historic Cricket Pictures

@picturesporting.bsky.social

Ian Botham was famously asked "who writes your scripts" ... the same could be said of Ben Stokes ... the ball after news of his retirement was broken to the ground

543h ago

Quoting this

Martin Emmerson7

Cuddunt mack it up marra.

Paul Hayward

@paulhayward.bsky.social

Great drama, and Ben Stokes is a generational star etc, but is this not self-indulgent? Retires 4 days into a Test England need to win to save the series, hijacks an opener's place and swings like it's a T20 run chase. If he rescues the game, hallelujah. But it's all very odd.

432h ago

pileque.bsky.social3

Gerd : "The contrast between the fashions of retirement between Kane Williamson and Ben Stokes could not be any sharper. Regards, a Williamson fan." You may have a point!

Mark McGagh3

Drama and ego over the team. Not exactly captain behaviour.

Dick Byrne2

This has the hallmarks of FU to the ECB

Ian P2

He’s just said “Fuck it. Fuck them.”.

rich57h.bsky.social2

The timing of the announcement, opening the batting, changing rest of the batting order, Brook’s brain dead innings: wtf is this all about. In the real world boring boring Mitchell shows how to win a Test match.

pileque.bsky.social2

This is why England should have got rid of McCullum last year.

Jo Wolff

@jowolff.bsky.social

Feeling sorry for people from non-cricketing nations not understanding what a momentous event it is for Ben Stokes to announce his retirement from international cricket.

443h ago

Alan Stedman4

Great player and an enigma of the first order My imprinted memory is this catch If you have played cricket I will not need to tell you how difficult it would have been to get to the ball let alone pouch this catch...with his 'wrong' hand youtu.be/h7GqCq61Y_E?...

Sam Coleridge3

The most popular New Zealand born cricketer in England atm.

Alan Stedman1

No different to USA people posting re Basketball or NFL or even NHL I suggest

David Henig

@davidheniguk.bsky.social

Ben Stokes has been a terrific England cricket captain and whatever his reasons for retirement there is sense in the timing as the team now faces a period of rebuilding

344h ago

Balderdash

@balderdash.bsky.social

A truly remarkable cricketer and possibly England’s greatest all-rounder which is some accolade given the brilliance of Botham. Indelibly etched in some of England’s finest moments. A sad moment but those of us who love the game should be thankful we saw him play.

322h ago

Tayo3000

@tayo3000.bsky.social

I was a tiny bit too young for Botham in his pomp, and even though I lived through and watched live the best of Freddie, there’s nothing - absolutely nothing - as exhilarating as the best Ben Stokes. I am full of #feelings right now 🏏

282h ago

Phil Harrison

@mrpmharrison.bsky.social

Astonishing scenes at the cricket. Ben Stokes's retirement is announced. He takes a wicket next ball. Theatre. An irreplaceable cricketer.

184h ago

Bilal Zafar

@zafarcakes.bsky.social

Nasser Hussain has just called Ben Stokes a 'prat'. Absolutely horrifying thing to say and you better believe ofcom will be contacted.

234h ago

Test Match Special {bot}

@bbctmsbot.bsky.social

Some very big breaking news. Ben Stokes is calling time on his England career.

124h ago

Paul Bernal

@paulbernal.bsky.social

Feels a little as though our puritanical and hypocritical media has forced Ben Stokes to retire.

224h ago

Pudsey5

It was always going to end this way. Rob Key should resign,he's essentially thrown Stokes to the dogs. What he should have said is "they are grown men and what they do outside of a test match is their business," but he's weak and went for curfews and bans. And England are substantially weaker now!

Craig Winstanley1

Certainly can’t blame him for wanting to escape from them.

Henry Mance

@henrymance.ft.com

Ben Stokes is opening the batting - presumably worried that England would cruise to victory without him getting a bat

242h ago

Roger Protz

@rogerprotz.bsky.social

Watching an enthralling Test Match ENG vs NZ. #BenStokes bowling well when Breaking News announced: he's to retire from International Cricket. A stunning moment: Trent Bridge crowd are standing as they get the news. The very next ball, he takes a wicket. Extraordinary moment of #EnglandCricket

174h ago