London, June 28, 2026: England Test captain Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on one of the most remarkable careers in modern cricket, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Sunday.
According to the ECB, the 35-year-old all-rounder will retire at the conclusion of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, ending an international career that began in 2011 and a Test career that started with his debut during the Ashes series in Adelaide in December 2013.
Stokes has led England’s Test side since April 2022 and is widely regarded as one of the country’s finest captains and most influential cricketers.
“One of England’s all-time greatest captains, Ben Stokes, has decided to retire from international cricket at the end of this Test match,” the ECB said in its statement.
The board hailed Stokes as an inspirational leader who played a central role in many of England’s most memorable victories.
Among the defining moments of his career was his unbeaten 84 in the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final against New Zealand, which helped force the match into a Super Over that England ultimately won to claim their first-ever World Cup title. He was also instrumental in England’s triumph at the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Only weeks after the 2019 World Cup final, Stokes produced one of the greatest innings in Test history, scoring an unbeaten 135 against Australia at Headingley to guide England to an astonishing one-wicket victory in the third Ashes Test.
His highest Test score came in 2016 when he smashed 258 against South Africa in Cape Town.
ECB Chairman Richard Thompson paid tribute to Stokes, describing him as one of England’s greatest-ever cricketers.
“Ben Stokes leaves the international game as one of England’s greatest ever cricketers and one of the defining figures of his generation,” Thompson said.
“His performances under pressure, relentless competitiveness and ability to produce extraordinary moments when they mattered most have given millions of fans memories that will endure forever. Whether inspiring England to World Cup victories or leading the Test side with courage and conviction, Ben has been a truly talismanic figure in English cricket.”
Stokes retires as one of the most decorated all-rounders of his era, having earned widespread admiration for his match-winning performances, leadership and commitment across all formats of international cricket.
