The England vs New Zealand third and final Test match has been ongoing at Trent Bridge, as the series is evenly poised between both teams at 1-1. The England National Cricket Team have been struck with a setback. Their captain, Ben Stokes, announces retirement from the traditional format of the game following this Test match and will also step down as captain.
Ben Stokes, in the recent Test match, got off to a rare milestone, joining hands with Jacques Kallis, becoming only the second cricketer to own a double of 7,000-plus runs and 250-wickets in Test cricket. The decision will be a shocking one for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as he has been an integral part of the side in Test cricket.
Ben Stokes retires from international cricket
This is a sudden decision by Ben Stokes, as the star all-rounder recently returned to the side after facing his punishment over the nightclub incident controversy. Ben Stokes will retire from international cricket after the conclusion of the ongoing Test, as he shared the information with his teammates before the start of play today.
He stated, “There’s something that I know is going to happen over the next two days, which is going to be… This is my last two days as your captain, and my last two days as a representative of England. Reasons can wait. Why? But, I’ve had many trips to the well before for this team, for you blokes, for people beforehand, and I’ve got one more trip to do.”
“And the only thing that I ask, please, is can everyone please just do the same? We’ve got a lot of hard work still to do, and the only thing that I want is to be able to walk off the end of that field regardless of the result, knowing that I’ve had this group of men, and one lady.”
Ben Stokes further stated that in the final two days of his last Test match, the star all-rounder wants to do everything possible to do and win the Test match and also wants his team to perform with the same.
In his pre-match press conference, Stokes did not rule out the idea that the ongoing third Test at Trent Bridge might be his final, and he is said to have informed his teammates and the ECB of his decision on Sunday morning before play.
“Give everything for the last two days, and the only thing I want is just for everyone to give it, not only for me selfishly, but also for this team, and everything else that we’ve got going forward for you blokes.”
Stokes played pivotal roles in several of the country’s most famous victories, including his undefeated 84 in the 2019 ODI World Cup final against New Zealand and his incredible 135 not out at Headingley later that summer in the Ashes. He also completed with a career-best Test score of 258 against South Africa in Cape Town, 2016.
“All the taps on the ass, all the emotion, all that kind of stuff, please can we just wait for the end of this game? Because we’ve still got a shitload more work to do. And I’ve got a shitload more work to do that I want to do, so… Let’s just go out there and fucking give absolutely everything for another two days.”
“Because that’s my only intention, and that’s what all my energy is right now. Got the emotional side out of it, but now it’s time to go to work. Everyone else, please just keep moving. Thank you.”
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Author: Author CricketAddictor
