In a post on social media, Ben Stokes has declared his retirement from one-day international cricket.

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Stokes, who played a crucial role in England’s 2019 WC victory, claimed that playing in three different formats was “simply unsustainable” and that he felt as like he was preventing other players from having opportunities. The decision came a s a big shock to the cricketing community.

Here’s a look at his best 5 spells in ODI cricket:

1. 5/61 vs Australia (2013): It was the series decider of 2013 NatWest series. After striking early in the innings removing Finch and Wade, he struck again removing the centurion Shane Watson making way for Australia’s 7 for 87 collapse. Stokes was accurate, hitting 90 mph, and maintained composure in the face of daunting Australia attack consisting the likes of Philip Hughes, Finch, Watson, Clarke and Wade. Stokes finished with 5 for 61. This spell is rated as one of the best spells in the ODI cricket for a losing side. 

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2. 4/38 vs Australia (2014): This match is more remembered as ‘Stokes the all rounder’ rather than ‘Stokes the bowler’. The English team were in Australia for 3 months but hadn’t won a single match. Then came Stokes'(70) mature batting where he struck his maiden ODI fifty and took England to 316/8. He followed this brilliant batting performance with even more clinical bowling display. He struck at critical intervals, sending standing captain Bailey, Maxwell, Falkner and Johnson back to the pavilion. This was really important as wickets continuously falling meant that Australia were never really in the game.

3. 3/23 vs Bangladesh (2019): This spell came at a crucial junction of England’s road to 2019 WC title. It was just their 3rd match of the WC and in their 2nd match, they had tested a bitter defeat against Pakistan. After setting Bangladesh a mammoth target of 387, the hosts were in a bit of a tight spot. It was looking that Shakib Al Hasan incredible batting display would lead to another upset. But then Stokes and sent down a powerful yorker, which sent Al Hasan back to pavilion. The rest of the batting line up didn’t last long and they won the match comfortably by 106 runs.

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4. 3/34 vs India (2021): Although for a losing cause, it was one of the best bowling figures of Stokes. He not only removed Rohit Sharma just when he was looking threatening, he also removed Dhawan at 98, breaking thousands of Indian hearts. In the high scoring match, where all English bowlers economy was 6+, he had an economy of 4.25 and also the most no. of wickets claimed.

5. 3/37 vs West Indies (2014): It was also a good bowling performance for Stokes, especially if we take note of the wickets he took. He took important wickets at crucial moments. He took the wicket of Shai Hope and centurion Chris Gayle among others to help West Indies restrict below 400. It was a high scoring contest with England chasing 361 comfortably.