Ben Stokes has introduced that he’ll retire from one-day worldwide cricket to be able to deal with captaining England’s Test crew.
Stokes was the hero of England’s 2019 World Cup last victory over New Zealand and can play in his final ODI towards South Africa in Durham on Tuesday.
In a shock announcement, Stokes stated he may not give his all throughout three codecs after he was named England’s Test captain in May.
“This has been an incredibly tough decision to make,” Stokes stated. “As hard as a decision as this was to come to, it’s not as hard as dealing with the fact I can’t give my teammates 100 per cent 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 [ODI captain] Jos [Buttler] 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.”
Stokes has scored 2,919 runs and brought 74 wickets within the format and can play in his one hundred and fifth worldwide match towards South Africa. He will likely be remembered for his player-of-the-match show in England’s dramatic World Cup last victory over New Zealand at Lord’s.
“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,” Stokes stated.
“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.”
The 31-year-old added: “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, [white ball coach] 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.”
Rob Key, managing director of males’s cricket on the England and Wales Cricket Board, paid tribute to Stokes, saying: “Ben has had an incredible international career in ODI cricket, culminating in his match-winning performance at the Cricket World Cup final.
“I know this must have been a tough decision, but I completely understand why he has reached this conclusion.
“I’m sure that when we look back on Ben’s career and see this as one of the reasons he will play 120-plus Tests and help England in T20 matches and World Cups for many years to come. It is a typically selfless decision that will benefit England long-term.”
Additional reporting from PA
Source: www.impartial.co.uk