England’s talisman all-rounder Ben Stokes has decided to hang his boots from the ODI format. Stokes will play his swansong at Chester-le-street against South Africa on Tuesday. The all-rounder admitted that he wasn’t able to give his 100% in all three forms of the game and feels it will make sense if a deserving player takes his place.
Stokes also feels it was unsustainable for him to manage all three formats of the games. The all-rounder had recently taken over England’s Test captain baton and he will continue to play in the T20I format.
Meanwhile, Stokes most memorable knock in England’s ODI jersey came in the 2019 World Cup final. The left-hander had scored a fine knock of 84 runs off 98 balls to help the Lions tie the score of 241 runs against New Zealand. England went on to win in the Super Over and Stokes was awarded the Player of the Match.
“I will play my last game for England in ODI cricket on Tuesday in Durham,” Stokes said on Monday (July 19) in an ECB release. “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.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“I would like to wish Jos Buttler, Matthew Mott, the players and the support staff every success going forward. We have made great strides in white-ball cricket over the past seven years, and the future looks bright. “I have loved all 104 games I have played so far, I’ve got one more, and it feels amazing to be playing my last game at my home ground in Durham.
“As always, the England fans have always been there for me and will continue to be there. You’re the best fans in the world. I hope we can win on Tuesday and set the series up nicely against South Africa.”
Rob Key, who is the Managing Director of England’s Men Cricket, called Stokes’ decision ‘typically selfless’.
“Ben Stokes has had an incredible international career in ODI cricket, culminating in his match-winning performance at the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final,” Key said. “I know this must have been a tough decision, but I completely understand why he has reached this conclusion.
“I’m sure that when we look back on Ben’s career and see this as one of the reasons he will play 120-plus Tests and help England in T20 matches and World Cups for many years to come. “It is a typically selfless decision that will benefit England long-term.”
Stokes played 104 ODI matches in which he scored 2919 runs at an average of 39.44 and a strike rate of 95.26. The seamer also took 74 wickets in the 50-overs versio. The all-rounder will play his 105th and last ODI against the Proteas.
