Ben Stokes has been hailed as a “talisman of English cricket” after he announced his shock international retirement.
The England captain will bring an extraordinary international career to a close following the Rothesay Series decider against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
Stokes informed his England teammates in the dressing room on the morning of day four in Nottingham.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) then made the announcement publicly while Stokes was on the field, in the midst of an 11-over bowling spell, as he endeavoured to bring England back into contention in the final Test of the series, which currently stands at 1-1.
Former team-mate Stuart Broad said on commentary for Sky Sports: “(He is) a talisman of English cricket. He will be remembered wearing that Three Lions with a crown on top very proudly.
“A complete match-winner, someone that won’t look at the numbers, look at the moments of his career.
“Someone that’s always there in the big moments of games, giving absolutely everything.”
Stokes fittingly went on to take a wicket with his first ball after the news was made public, catching the edge of Zak Foulkes and Harry Brook gobbling up a low chance at second slip.
Broad added: “What a magical moment. Who writes his scripts?”
England and Wales Cricket Board chair Richard Thompson was also full of praise for the two-time World Cup winner.
Thompson said: “Ben Stokes leaves the international game as one of England’s greatest ever cricketers and one of the defining figures of his generation.
“His performances under pressure, his relentless competitiveness and his ability to produce the extraordinary when it matters most have given me and millions of other fans memories that will endure forever.
“Whether inspiring victory in the biggest moments – not least driving England to World Cup wins in 2019 and 2022 and his heroic Ashes innings at Headingley – or leading the Test team with courage and conviction, Ben has been a talismanic figure in English cricket.
“Beyond his remarkable achievements on the field, his performances have inspired many youngsters to embrace cricket with positivity and belief. We are losing a batsman, a bowler, a captain and a talisman.”
The news comes days after Stokes was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Cricket Regulator following an altercation at a nightclub earlier this month.
The 35-year-old was suspended for one Test match by the ECB and told senior figures he was considering his long-term future, before returning to the team for the third Test.
