Ben Stokes: ‘Real Reason’ England Captain Has Quit International Cricket

Departing England Test captain Ben Stokes has revealed why he decided to walk away from international cricket.

In a highly unorthodox move, the 35-year-old opted to make his decision public while he was out in the middle, bowling for his side during the third Test match with New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

A statement confirming the news was released at 3.25pm on Sunday’s fourth day, timed to coincide with Stokes beginning an over during a marathon spell of bowling.

As word of Stokes’ resignation made its way around the ground in Nottingham, the 17,000-strong crowd rose to their feet to acknowledge the Durham man.

With every fan in attendance willing him to get a wicket, Stokes rose to the occasion, finding the edge of Zak Foulkes’ bat before Harry Brook took a fine catch at second slip. It was absolute cinema and encapsulated everything that Stokes has become known for his 15 years in an England shirt, with four of those coming as captain.

Stokes celebrated with a beaming smile. His storybook delivery came just days after he returned to the England side, having missed the 253-run defeat at The Oval in the second test while an investigation was carried out into a late-night incident at a London nightclub following the first Test match of the series.

Together with teammate Gus Atkinson, Stokes was issued with a written warning over his behaviour by the Cricket Regulator, before both men returned to the side at Trent Bridge.

However, barely four days into his comeback appearance, Stokes informed his side in the dressing room before the start of play, that the ongoing test would be his last match as an international player.

Ben Stokes’ Retirement Decision Explored

While it is natural to assume that the disciplinary issues of the past few weeks may have prompted his decision to quit the international scene, the two-time World Cup winner insisted that other factors had convinced him to walk away.

Speaking to Sky Sports following the end of the day’s play, Stokes told Ian Ward and Stuart Broad that he had been considering his future for some time.

The New Zealand series marks England’s first test match action since Stokes presided over a dismal 4-1 Ashes defeat to Australia during the winter. The departing captain insisted that it was during that series that he really began to have doubts over his future.

Why Ben Stokes Is Waking Away From International Cricket

“It’s the emotional side of this since Australia,” he began. “The way I said it to my wife was: ‘I don’t actually think I have any fight left in me to get over this, to be honest.’

Stokes concluded: “Do I have that fight in me to keep doing that? I know what it takes to walk out there and keep playing for this country. There are so many things that have leaned me towards knowing that this is the right decision. There’s the emotional side, the physical side, the mental side.”

Prior to the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy series with New Zealand, Stokes went on record to call the months following England’s Ashes embarrassment “the hardest period” of his time as captain.

Stokes, along with head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key, survived an internal review of England’s performance down under just three months ago, with all three keeping their jobs.

However, with Stokes’ departure, England must now look to rebuild without their enigmatic skipper. No decision has yet been made on who will take up the role. Former captain Joe Root has been widely tipped as the logical choice to take charge for the side’s next Test action, which comes with the visit of Pakistan in August.