Ben Stokes retires from international cricket after 15‑year England career

England’s star all‑rounder Ben Stokes announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket following the home Test series defeat to New Zealand. In a heartfelt post on X he wrote, "It's been a mad 15 years… I love every single England fan and every single cricket fan who’s supported me," thanking teammates, fans and family.

Stokes ends a 15‑year span that saw him play 122 Tests (44 as captain), score more than 7,000 runs, take over 200 wickets, and feature in 114 ODIs and 43 T20Is. Highlights include the unbeaten 84 in the 2019 ODI World Cup final, the match‑winning 135* at Headingley in the 2019 Ashes, a T20 World Cup triumph in 2022 and steering England through the aggressive "Bazball" era as Test captain.

His retirement marks the departure of one of England’s most influential cricketers, leaving a legacy of match‑winning performances across all formats.