Ben Stokes announces retirement from international cricket
Ben Stokes (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 28 Jun 2026, 06:28 PM• Read time - 2 mins
Star England all-rounder and Test captain Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket. Stokes is currently playing the third Test against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, after returning from a one-match suspension for breaching the team’s night curfew following their victory at Lord’s in the first Test.
Stokes was involved in an incident alongside Gus Atkinson at a nightclub against Totoa Auvaa, a player in the English rugby union club Saracens, which left the England security guard injured.
Ben Stokes has played 122 Test matches in his career so far, scoring 7243 runs at an average of 34.49 with 14 centuries and 37 fifties to his name. He has also scalped 251 wickets at an average of 31.10 with six five-wicket hauls. He's only the second player, after the legendary Jacques Kallis, to score 7000 runs and take 250 wickets in Tests.
One of England's all-time greatest captains, Ben Stokes, has decided to retire from international cricket at the end of this Test match.
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 28, 2026
Ben, you have been the most inspirational captain, leader and legend this team could have ever hoped for.
We love you so much and wish you… pic.twitter.com/U5grq0F0kj
Stokes has already retired from ODIs and last played T20I cricket during the 2022 World Cup final against Pakistan, where he scored an unbeaten half-century, which took England over the line in the tricky run chase. He came out of retirement to play in the ODI World Cup 2023, but hasn't featured in the 50-over format after the end of the tournament.
Stokes' captaincy career
Stokes made his Test debut against Australia during the 2013 Ashes in Adelaide and scored a magnificent century in just his second game on a treacherous pitch in Perth. He was handed over the England Test team captaincy in 2022, and he brought a revolution within the side alongside head coach Brendon McCullum, through their aggressive style of play termed ‘Bazball’ by the media.
He’s the joint-third most successful England captain in terms of wins, having guided his team to 24 wins out of 43 matches, with a win percentage of 55.81. Under his leadership, England became the first team to whitewash Pakistan 3-0 on their home soil in 2022.
His best Test innings remains an unbeaten 135* against Australia at Headingley, Leeds, during the third Ashes Test, which guided England to a miraculous one-wicket victory.
