Watch: Ben Stokes retires from international cricket with emotional message to team-mates

Just half an hour before the end of the second session of the fourth day during the third Test of the three-match series against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, the announcement shocked the world of cricket and the fans: the iconic all-rounder and England captain, Ben Stokes, would retire from international cricket with an emotional message. 

The news came after Stokes missed the second Test of the series at the Kennington Oval in South London after an incident at a London nightclub after the first red-ball clash at Lord’s. He was out of the eleven along with Gus Atkinson.

Ben Stokes's emotional message to his England team-mates as he calls time on his international career

The England Cricket Board (ECB) released a video of Stokes revealing the news to his team-mates just before the beginning of the fourth day’s play, when he made the emotional speech in the dressing room in Nottingham.

Watch Ben Stokes' emotional message here- 

“There’s something that I know is going to happen over the next two days, which is that this is my last two days as your captain and my last two days representing England,” Stokes said in an emotional speech.

“Reasons can wait why, but I’ve had many trips to the well before for this team, for you blokes, for people beforehand, and I’ve got one more trip to do. And the only thing that I ask, please, is can everyone please do the same.” He addressed.

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The development was expected to come at some point, but not in the middle of a Test match, especially when the veteran was in the middle of a marathon 10-over spell. Just after the news broke out, Stokes got the wicket as the fans and his team-mates celebrated together.

“We’ve got a lot of hard work still to do, and the only thing that I want is to be able to walk off that field, regardless of the result, knowing that I’ve had this group of men and one lady give everything for the last two days,” The veteran added. 

From the 2019 World Cup super over to 135* at Headingley — Ben Stokes's defining England moments

Ben Stokes, before his final Test, had 7228 runs in 218 innings at an average of 34.58, thanks to his 14 centuries and 37 half-centuries at the best score of 258 runs against South Africa at Newlands. This included his famous 135* at Leeds during the Ashes 2019. Besides that, he also became just the second player in Tests to have 250+ wickets and 7000+ runs combined.

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In ODIs, Stokes has slammed 3463 runs in 99 innings of ODI cricket at a strike rate of 95.68 with five centuries and 24 half-centuries at the best score of 182 and picked up 74 wickets in 88 innings, including winning the 2019 ODI World Cup.

Stokes also has the T20 World Cup 2022 as he contributed 585 runs at a strike rate of 128 in T20Is and 26 wickets at an economy rate of 8.39. In his absence, Harry Brook is expected to be the new Test captain for England. 

Cricket fans and stars pay tribute as Ben Stokes retires from international cricket

The fans and stars pay tribute with various comments on the superb career of Ben Stokes, as he bids adieu to international cricket.