Former England captain Ben Stokes has shared an emotional message with his family, teammates, friends and fans just days after announcing his retirement from international cricket.
The two-time World Cup winner reflected on his remarkable 15-year journey, expressing gratitude to everyone who stood by him during the highs and lows of his career.
Stokes shocked the cricketing world earlier this week when he announced, during the third Test against New Zealand, that he would retire from international cricket after the match. The decision marked the end of one of England’s most celebrated cricket careers.
A Heartfelt Goodbye to Cricket
In a touching post on social media, Stokes described his international career as an unforgettable journey filled with memorable moments both on and off the field.
He said the decision to retire was his alone and thanked every England supporter and cricket fan who had backed him throughout his career. Stokes also expressed his appreciation for every teammate with whom he had the privilege of representing England, saying he loved every moment of wearing the national jersey.
Ending the message with his trademark humour, the all-rounder joked that he now looks forward to supporting England as a fan and enjoying the occasional day in hospitality. He concluded by thanking his family, friends, teammates and supporters before signing off simply as “Stokesy.”
A Glittering International Career
Stokes made his England white-ball debut in 2011 before earning his Test cap in 2013. Over the next 15 years, he established himself as one of the finest all-rounders in world cricket.
He played 279 international matches across all formats, scoring more than 11,000 runs and taking over 350 wickets. His match-winning performances played a crucial role in England’s historic ICC Cricket World Cup triumph in 2019 and the ICC T20 World Cup victory in 2022.
His aggressive batting, dependable bowling and fearless leadership made him one of England’s most influential cricketers of the modern era.
Retirement Comes After Challenging Weeks
Stokes’ retirement followed a turbulent period both on and off the field.
After leading England to victory in the opening Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, he became the centre of attention following reports of a late-night altercation at a bar involving teammate Gus Atkinson. The incident attracted widespread media coverage, and both players were left out of the second Test while an investigation was conducted.
Following the inquiry, both Stokes and Atkinson were cleared and returned to the squad for the third Test.
However, it was during that match that Stokes announced his retirement, bringing an unexpected end to his international career. England eventually lost both the match and the series 2-1 to New Zealand, making for an emotional conclusion to the legendary all-rounder’s time in international cricket.
An Enduring Legacy
Although his international career has come to an end, Ben Stokes leaves behind an extraordinary legacy built on resilience, match-winning performances and unforgettable moments on cricket’s biggest stages.
As England begin a new chapter without one of their greatest all-rounders, Stokes has promised to continue supporting the team from the stands, while cricket fans around the world celebrate a career that will be remembered for generations.
