TRENT BRIDGE — Ben Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket on July 3, 2026. His international career concluded after the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

Stokes, who made his England debut in 2011, ended his Test career with 7,273 runs and 252 wickets. He is one of two players in Test history to have scored more than 7,000 runs and taken over 250 wickets; Jacques Kallis is the other. Stokes holds the record for the most sixes hit by any batter in Test cricket, with 138, and is one of three batters to have hit more than 100 sixes in the format.

Reflecting on his decision, the England cricketer stated, "Emotions when this day comes to everyone there's relief, happiness, excitement, sadness everything you go through." He added that he put extensive effort into his career, saying, "I put so much time and effort into it, I maybe possibly burnt out." Stokes anticipates playing for his boyhood club, Durham, in the future, noting, "I am very excited about the next part, what I get to do going back to play for my boyhood club Durham really."

Throughout his career, Stokes achieved several milestones, including an unbeaten 84 in the 2019 ODI World Cup final against New Zealand. Later that year, he scored 135 not out against Australia at Headingley. His career-best Test score of 258 came against South Africa in Cape Town in 2016. Stokes is also recognized as the only player in Test cricket history to have batted in all 11 positions and dismissed batters from all 11 positions. He is also credited with taking catches of batters from all 11 batting positions in Test cricket. Stokes played more than 250 appearances for England across all formats and captained England to 24 wins in 44 matches. He also won the T20 World Cup with England in 2022.

Why It Matters

Ben Stokes' retirement marks the conclusion of an international cricket career. His performance statistics place him among a select group of all-rounders in Test cricket history, specifically as one of only two players to achieve more than 7,000 runs and 250 wickets. His departure follows a period where he indicated potential burnout, and he intends to shift his focus to playing for Durham.