LONDON: England’s World Cup hero Ben Stokes has decided to hang his boots from his 11-year prolonged ODI career after the first ODI against South Africa on Tuesday, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed.
Stokes, who made his ODI debut for England in 2011 and represented the 2019 ODI world cup champions in 104 matches, will be calling off his 11-year-long career after the first ODI against South Africa at his home ground Seat Unique Riverside.
The decorated all-rounder scored 2919 runs, including three centuries, and took 74 wickets in his glittering career and played a vital role for England with his unbeaten 84 in the 2019 ODI World Cup against New Zealand and forced the match into a super over before England lifted their maiden ODI world cup title in the most thrilling fashion.
Stokes captained England’s ODI side in 2021 against Pakistan when the majority of their squad tested positive for COVID-19 and produced an astounding result while leading an inexperienced side as England whitewashed Pakistan 3-0.
While announcing his retirement, Stokes claimed that it has been an incredibly tough decision for him to retire from ODIs, while the fact that he can not give his hundred percent to his team and teammates, made it easier to make the decision.
“I will play my last game for England in ODI cricket on Tuesday in Durham. I have decided to retire from this format. This has been an incredibly tough decision to make. I have loved every minute of playing with my mates for England. We have had an incredible journey on the way,” ECB quoted Stokes.
“As hard as a decision as this was to come to, it’s not as hard dealing with the fact I can’t give my teammates 100% of myself in this format anymore. The England shirt deserves nothing less from anyone who wears it,” he added.
England’s newly-appointed Test captain then went on to claim that three formats are now unsustainable for him, while at the same time assured to give his all to Test cricket and claimed that he can still prove his commitment to T20I cricket.
“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 Jos 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,” he said.
“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,” he added.
