England’s Ben Stokes announces retirement from One Day International cricket

Ben Stokes has announced that he will retire from One Day International cricket after England’s clash with South Africa on Tuesday in Durham.

The Test captain will continue to play the longest format of the game, and international T20s, but will no longer compete in the 50-over contests.

The 31-year-old has played 101 ODIs for England, scoring 2,871 runs, including three centuries, and taking 74 wickets in the format.

He was a key figure in England’s famous World Cup win in 2019 and will get a tremendous reception in his last ODI on his home ground this week.

In a statement posted to social media, Stokes wrote: ‘I will play my last game for England in ODI cricket on Tuesday in Durham. I have decided to retire from this format. This has been an incredibly tough decision to make. I have loved every minute of playing with my mates for England. We have had an incredible journey on the way.

‘As hard as a decision as this was to come to, it’s not as hard dealing with the fact I can’t give my teammates 100% of myself in this format anymore. The England shirt deserves nothing less from anyone who wears it.

‘Three formats are just unsustainable for me now. Not only do I feel that my body is letting me down because of the schedule and what is expected of us, but I also feel that I am taking the place of another player who can give Jos and the rest of the team their all. It’s time for someone else to progress as a cricketer and make incredible memories like I have over the past 11 years.

‘I will give everything I have to Test cricket, and now, with this decision, I feel I can also give my total commitment to the T20 format.

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