​Ben Stokes has described his decision to retire from international cricket as the “best thing” for him, revealing that England’s final Test against New Zealand will be his last. The 35-year-old, regarded by many as one of England’s greatest ever players, announced the news on the fourth day of the deciding Test at Trent Bridge, meaning his international career will end after 15 years, 122 Tests, 114 ODIs and 43 T20s.
“It might sound quite selfish but this decision is genuinely the best thing for me right now,” Stokes told Sky Sports. “I hope it’s the best thing for the team going forward, but I also hope it will allow me to keep loving this game that has given me so much.”
Stokes dismissed suggestions the decision was prompted by recent events, including his unavailability for England’s second Test with New Zealand after an incident in a London nightclub. He said the idea of retirement had been taking shape since England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia and had resurfaced during the first Test at Lord’s. “The Lord’s Test, for me, brought back negative feelings about where I was in my career,” he explained. “I’d worked so hard since returning from Australia to fix things, or so I thought, and I felt I’d burned myself out.”
During his absence for the second Test, Stokes played for Durham and found his love for the game rekindled, though he admitted he couldn’t recapture that feeling this week. He added that he remains excited for what comes next and will continue playing domestic cricket, specifically at his boyhood club Durham. “Being back at Durham gave me a new lease on the game, but this week I couldn’t regain that feeling. I’m buzzing about what comes next, and I’m glad I’m moving on,” he said. He described the sequence as both uplifting and very tough, underscoring that the decision felt right.
Stokes said the retirement decision crystallised as he was putting on his pads to bat in England’s first innings at Trent Bridge. He informed former captain Joe Root and vice-captain Harry Brook on Saturday evening and told the rest of the squad on Sunday morning. “It’s been an interesting four or five weeks, maybe six months in general,” he reflected. “There are many emotions when this day arrives—relief, happiness, excitement, sadness. It’s all part of the journey.”
He also reflected on the responsibilities of captaining England, calling it the greatest honour he’s ever had, while acknowledging the personal price that comes with leadership. He concluded by acknowledging the importance of his family in this decision.