England Test captain Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket, effective immediately after the ongoing third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the decision in a statement on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Standing ovation and wicket in final Test
As news of the 35-year-old all-rounder's decision spread, the Trent Bridge crowd gave him a standing ovation. Shortly afterward, Stokes dismissed New Zealand's Zak Foulkes on the fourth day of the third and deciding Test, drawing further cheers. The announcement came after Stokes returned to the England side following his omission from the second Test at the Oval for breaking a midnight curfew, alongside teammate Gus Atkinson, after celebrating at a London nightclub following the first-Test win over New Zealand.
ECB chairman pays tribute
ECB chairman Richard Thompson paid tribute to Stokes, saying: “Ben Stokes leaves the international game as one of England’s greatest ever cricketers and one of the defining figures of his generation. His performances under pressure, his relentless competitiveness and his ability to produce the extraordinary when it matters most have given me and millions of other fans memories that will endure forever. Whether inspiring victory in the biggest moments — not least driving England to World Cup wins in 2019 and 2022 and his heroic Ashes innings at Headingley — or leading the Test team with courage and conviction, Ben has been a talismanic figure in English cricket.”
Career highlights and legacy
Stokes, who made his England debut in 2011, played a pivotal role in England's 2019 Cricket World Cup triumph, scoring an unbeaten 84 in the final against New Zealand. He also captained England to the 2022 T20 World Cup title. In Test cricket, his 135 not out in the 2019 Ashes at Headingley is regarded as one of the greatest innings in the sport's history. He took over the Test captaincy in 2022 and led the team with an aggressive, attacking style.
Stokes ends his international career with 6,247 runs and 197 wickets in Tests, 3,524 runs and 74 wickets in ODIs, and 1,202 runs and 26 wickets in T20Is. His retirement marks the end of an era for English cricket.
