World Cup final hero Ben Stokes has announced he is retiring from One-Day International cricket citing the game’s intense three-format schedule.
The 31-year-old, who was made England’s Test captain in April, confirmed his surprise ODI retirement on Monday following their 2-1 series loss to India.
Stokes will partake in Tuesday’s England ODI against South Africa at his home ground Chester-le-Street which will mark his final ODI for his country amid a schedule that is “unsustainable”.
“This has been an incredibly tough decision to make. I have loved every minute of playing with my mates for England, Stokes said in a statement. “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.
“Its time for someone else to progress as a cricketer and make incredible memories like I have over the past 11 years.”
Stokes has played 104 ODIs for England, taking 74 wickets and 2,871 runs, while he has also played 83 Tests and 34 T20 Internationals for his country. As an all-rounder, Stokes’ role can require a lot of him physically.
The announcement comes in wake of a difficult two-and-a-half years for international cricketers who have played the game around the world, often in bubbles and hubs.
Stokes’ reasons behind his retirement will make cricket administrators take notice, particularly given his understandable desire to want to play franchise T20 cricket given its financial benefits for players.
The 2019 World Cup Player of the Final remains committed to England at Test level along with T20Is ahead of this year’s World Cup.
