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Stokes shock as World Cup hero calls time on ODI career

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18th July, 2022
23

England’s World Cup hero Ben Stokes has announced his shock retirement from one-day cricket, departing with a word of warning about the “unsustainable” schedule.

Stokes’ bloody-minded brilliance was the inspiration behind England’s historic victory in the 2019 World Cup final, defying the odds to score 84 not out in a tied match against New Zealand and then coming back out to settle things via a super over.

He has scored 2919 runs and taken 74 wickets in the format.

But in three years since his triumphant moment at the World Cup, the country’s star allrounder has played just nine more times in the 50-over format, due to injuries, a mental health break and workload management.

The 31-year-old will turn out once more for a farewell appearance, at his home ground of Chester-le-Street against South Africa on Tuesday, before focusing on his Test captaincy and Twenty20 career.

He made clear in a carefully worded statement – issued personally on his social media accounts then shared by his employers at the ECB – that England’s exhausting fixture list has been a factor in forcing his hand.

“This has been an incredibly tough decision to make,” he said.

“I have loved every minute of playing with my mates for England. We have had an incredible journey on the way.

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“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 per cent 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 (captain) Jos (Buttler) 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.”

Former England captain Nasser Hussain, now a respected pundit, blamed a ‘joke’ schedule for Stokes’ decision.

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“If the ICC just keep putting on ICC events, and the individual boards just keep filling in the gaps with as much cricket as possible, then eventually these cricketers will say ‘I’m done’.

“Ben Stokes is done in one format aged 31, which can’t be right really. The schedule needs looking at, it’s a bit of a joke at the moment.

“It’s disappointing news to say the least. But if you’re a multi-format, multi-dimensional England Test match captain like Ben Stokes, who throws himself into his job 100 per cent on and off the field, eventually something is going to have to give.

“It’s a reflection of where the cricketing schedule is at the moment. It is madness for players.”

Stokes’ decision was described as “selfless” by Rob Key, managing director of men’s cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board..

“I know this must have been a tough decision, but I completely understand why he has reached this conclusion,” said Key, who appointed Stokes as Test captain this year.

“It is a typically selfless decision that will benefit England long-term.”

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