- Sunday, January 12, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
ACE England all-rounder Ben Stokes on Monday (18) announced his decision to quit one-day internationals (ODIs) saying the game against South Africa in Durham on Tuesday (19) will be his final fixture in the format as he could not give 100 per cent in the same anymore. The 31-year-old, who recently took over as the Three Lions’ Test captain, made the announcement on his Twitter account along with an image of him holding the World Cup trophy that England won in 2019 and a lengthy statement.
“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,” Stokes, who was adjudged the player of the match in a thrilling World Cup final against New Zealand at Lord’s three years ago, said in the official statement.
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— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) July 18, 2022
“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.
Cricketing fraternity salutes Ben Stokes: ‘It’s been an honour’
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,” he added.
Stokes also said, “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. I would like to wish Jos Buttler, Matthew Mott, the players and the support staff every success going forward. We have made great strides in white-ball cricket over the past seven years, and the future looks bright.
“I have loved all 104 games I have played so far, I’ve got one more, and it feels amazing to be playing my last game at my home ground in Durham. As always, the England fans have always been there for me and will continue to be there. You’re the best fans in the world. I hope we can win on Tuesday and set the series up nicely against South Africa,” he added.
Stokes, who had an ordinary three-match ODI series against India at home, has scored 2,919 runs in 104 outings at an average of 39 plus. He has made three centuries and 21 fifties besides taking 74 wickets at an average of 41.79.
After making his ODI debut against Ireland in 2011, Stokes also captained England’s ODI side against Pakistan last year and has been praised as an inspirational leader.
Last month, Eoin Morgan, who led England to their maiden World Cup victory in 2019, retired from international cricket.
