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.
“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.
“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.”
Andrew
Guest
Global cricket board need to set 3 * (7 weeks) windows per year where all cricket players must be available to commit to global cricket tournaments (20 overs and 50 overs) and global test cricket playoff. Suggestion windows periods: one window starting in early February, one window starting in early June and one window starting in early October. 31.25 % of available windows will be used for global cricket tournaments (20 overs and 50 overs) and global test cricket playoff. Remaining windows will be used to schedule standard international cricket test matches, international 50 overs cricket matches and international 20 overs cricket matches.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
The BCCI now owns the game globally - but we've known that's been coming for a decade. And it will mold it in its image, or as it sees fit. There's no changing that fact. It's now upon us. The time of resistance is over. Now it's about acquiescence and adaption.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Yup I agree .. Take India out the equation and Im afraid cricket is a minnow sport globally .
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Money talks. India has the money. CSA needs the money and is willing to fall over itself to secure that money. Therefore it's a done deal. Of course, it means CSA will now be tied to the IPL/BCCI as its master. Indeed it already has. But, as you say, CSA brought this on itself through its inept governance over a period of time.. And ultimately it will bring rejuvenation of the game in South Africa. -- Cricket Australia hasn't been similarly dysfunctional in its administration - though it's been far from perfect - but it will be able to retain its governance independence, though I wouldn't be surprised if at some point it ends up suckling at the teat of the BCCI in some form. The fact is, the BCCI is by far and away the game's biggest revenue generator. And the BCCI is only going to become more financially influential. These IPL-franchise comps are signs of the rapidly changing new world order and it won't be ending any time soon. CA is at a crossroads right now where it makes a decision on remaining completely independent, or it agrees to get in to bed with BCCI in some way. It will end up going the latter, without doubt IMO.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Ha ha yeah I said it tongue in cheek , but let’s see hey .. for what it’s worth here in SA it’s massive . The longer term consequences unfathomable ... For more than a decade Cricket was hijacked under the guise of politics and transformation by individuals who should frankly be in prison . Same happening in our rugby . Private investors seeing potential , investing but same time using that leverage to neutralize the opportunists. And if our Minister of Sport doesn’t like it , easy solution .. bribe him . There done .
Jeff
Roar Rookie
If the IPL franchisees are investing in the SAF League - indeed effectively owning the League (CSA may own the brand, but the IP franchises will be pulling the strings and CSA will be saying "yes sir, how much sir" - as will be the SAF broadcaster, Supersport), then it makes sense that the IPL will have the SAF teams connect with their franchises by using the same nick names. That will play better back home. We had a similar situation recently in Australia where Manchester City bought a Melbourne soccer team known for a decade as "Melbourne Heart" and the club was subsequently renamed as "Melbourne City".
Joshua Makepeace
Roar Rookie
With the added responsibility of being test captain, you can't really blame Ben. Just remember the break he had to have last year, he's probably done this as not to suffer another mental or physical burnout.
JGK
Roar Guru
It does feel like International T20s are completely pointless when there are a gazillions franchise tournaments.
Brian
Guest
If the IPL owns the teams then I suspect Indian players will be allowed to play. When you add the fact 9:30pm in Mumbai is 6pm in Durban and the T20 league will be in Jan/Feb and it seems to be almost setup as an IPL pre-season
Pom in exile
Roar Rookie
Never gets old. :shocked:
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Points system is a good idea but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a boring format. Early overs while the field is up, blast away. Middle overs, dribbles down to long on for endless singles. Final overs, blast away again. The rules need extensive amendments to make it worth watching. The scarcity idea is good too, but TV rights are too enticing.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Yup every single SA Franchise . Interestingly the SA Teams haven’t been named yet either . Just allocated geographical descriptions so far . Who knows maybe Joburg Daredevils , Durban Royals , Capetown Superkings ???
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Sorry, the SA teams have been bought out by IPL franchise owners? What the? -- LIV Golf cum LIV cricket? - Will Aaron Finch be similarly offered one half a billion USD to sign on ?!
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Interesting news in after the cancellation of the ODI series in Aus by South Africa is that with the T20 competition newly launched which caused the cancellation , the SA teams have now all been bought out by IPL franchise owners . So something is afoot here and I think of significance to some Australian Cricketers too . Graeme Smith incidentally the newly announced CEO .
Bobbo7
Guest
Shame he didn't win a world cup.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Well, yes that's true re bilateral cancellations. But overall it's locked in structurally as a calendar. Across all the Full Members, there's no room for a seismic shift-change re scheduling/conceptual approach as per this discussion point.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
Shocking,but not really surprising. I am more worried about player fitness. This is why i am in favor of completely separating test team from other format,or even separate the teams in limited over formats too. Players like jass or shami is too valuable to play meaningless series. Now Jass has back spasm.
Nick
Roar Guru
But going to be quite a few years before it could eventuate with the latest FTP all but locked in. the FTP is never locked in. Australia's continued cancellation of Bangladesh tours is a testament to that.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yes I think it would work. But going to be quite a few years before it could eventuate with the latest FTP all but locked in. Interesting that the PCB has written to the ICC expressing concern over how much T20 leagues are canabalising the international calendar; though fair to say what the PCB is trying to achieve is to get the IPL scaled back so they can boost their own T20 league. But the underlying sentiment correctly points to the fact that there is just too many competing interests. T20 leagues aren’t going away soon, so better to scale back the iT20s to say one match added on to a tour and leave enough room for Tests and maybe one or two ODIs per tour. There simply isn’t enough room in the calendar and something has to give.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Yep I also think it would create more intensity for the players. Like the good old days of Davis Cup in tennis - if the ICC scheduled things properly, you'd have the Test Match-only guys (comparison would be doubles players) sticking around and supporting the T20 team to get the result for the country. The squads would all come together for a common cause.