Ben Stokes recently announced he will retire from international cricket. His final match will be England’s Test against New Zealand, which ends on Monday.
Stokes said retiring is the “best thing” for him right now. He hopes it is also best for the England team going forward. He hopes it will allow him to keep loving the game.
The 35-year-old said he had been thinking about retirement since England’s Ashes defeat in Australia. He said the first Test of the summer at Lord’s brought back negative feelings. He said he worked hard to put things right but burned himself out.
A recent nightclub incident also added to his decision. Stokes was made unavailable for the second Test after the incident. He confirmed it contributed to his thoughts of retiring.
Stokes played for Durham during the second Test. He said playing for his county rekindled his love for the game. He confirmed he will continue to play domestic cricket. He said he is excited about returning to Durham.
Stokes made the final decision on Saturday while preparing to bat. He told Joe Root and Harry Brook that evening. He told the rest of the team on Sunday morning.
Stokes has had several injuries across his career. He took a break in 2021 to prioritise his mental health. He said the physical and mental demands of the game have become tiring.
Stokes said he is content with his career. He is an Ashes winner. He won the 50-over World Cup in 2019. He won the T20 World Cup in 2022. He captained England and played alongside great players. He said there is not much he can complain about.
Can Ben Stokes play in IPL after retiring from international cricket?
Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket on Sunday. The announcement came during the fourth day of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
His retirement will take effect after the match ends on Monday. Stokes is 35 years old. He has played for England for 15 years.
Stokes said he would continue to play county cricket for Durham. He also said he would continue to play franchise cricket. This has led to speculation about a possible return to the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Stokes last played in the IPL in 2023. He was signed by Chennai Super Kings for INR 16.25 crore. He played only one game that season due to injury.
He opted out of IPL 2024 to manage his workload. He also did not register for the IPL 2025 mega auction. Under IPL rules, any overseas player who skips the mega auction is ineligible for the following auction cycle. This means Stokes is ruled out of IPL 2026.
Stokes could return for IPL 2027. He would need to register for the auction and be available.
Stokes has played 45 IPL matches. He has scored 935 runs with two centuries. He has taken 28 wickets. He was the Most Valuable Player in IPL 2017 while playing for Rising Pune Supergiant.
There is no official announcement about his IPL return. However, his retirement from international cricket makes a return from IPL 2027 onwards possible.
Ben Stokes Faces Criticism Over Retirement Announcement Timing
Ben Stokes has faced criticism from England cricket legends and the media over his retirement announcement. The criticism has focused on the timing of his decision.
Stokes announced his retirement on day four of the third Test against New Zealand. He will step down after the match ends.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan called it “bizarre” timing. He wrote about it in The Telegraph. Another former player, Michael Atherton, questioned the decision on commentary. He asked why Stokes chose to announce it in the middle of a match. He noted that England still had a match to win and a series on the line.
Journalist Piers Morgan also criticised the situation. He said he hated how it played out. Writer Steve Madeley called the final session “disgraceful” and “self-indulgent”. Paul Hayward of The Observer also described it as “self-indulgent”. He noted that Stokes retired with a Test still to play.
Some critics argued that Stokes did not receive enough support from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Former captain Kevin Pietersen said Stokes should not have been the first to go. Oliver Holt wrote in the Daily Mail that lesser men had brought Stokes down. He described Stokes’ treatment by the cricket establishment as a betrayal.
Stokes opened the batting in his final innings. He scored 30 runs off 20 balls. England still needed 314 runs to win the match.
FAQs
Q. Why did Ben Stokes decide to retire from international cricket?
A. Stokes said the physical and mental demands of international cricket had become too much.
Q. Which domestic team will Ben Stokes continue to play for after retirement?
A. Stokes will continue to play county cricket for Durham.
Q. Why was Ben Stokes criticised after announcing his retirement?
A. Stokes was criticised because he announced his retirement during the third Test against New Zealand.
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