Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from ODI cricket today. The spirited all-rounder- player of the match in the 2019 World Cup- has called time on the 50-over game to focus his energies on the red-ball and T20 format. Having taken over as the 81st test captain of the England men’s team from good friend Joe Root, the ebullient cricketer has led the Three Lions to four rip-roaring wins in his first four outings as permanent captain. 

Also Read: Ben Stokes statement on ODI retirement

But with the cricket calendar thick with matches across all formats, Stokes has picked his priorities. In a statement released on ECB’s official website, the 31-year-old Christchurch-born player said: 

“I will play my last game for England in ODI cricket on Tuesday in Durham. 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.”  

Also Read: Ben Stokes retires from ODI cricket: Fans react

Who is Ben Stokes?

Benjamin Andrew Stokes is an English cricketer who plays for England’s ODI and T20I teams. Domestically, he represents Durham County Cricket Club. Stokes has played in several Twenty20 leagues, including the Indian Premier League in which he has played for Rajasthan Royals and Rising Pune Supergiant.

Early life

Born on June 4, 1991, in New Zealand to rugby coach Gerard Stokes and an English mother, Stokes belongs to Māori and English lineage. At the age of 12, he relocated to England when his father joined Workington Townrugby league club as the head coach. 

Stokes spent his childhood in the town of Cockermouth. He studied at Cockermouth School and played cricket for the town’s cricket club. 

Also Read: Joe Root’s journey as England Test captain: From most wins to terrible Ashes record

Career

In 2009, Stokes made his one-day debut at The Oval for Durham. During the match, he took the wicket of batter Mark Ramprakash with his third delivery. After making his first-class debut for Durham in 2010 and scoring a half-century, he made his debut in international cricket in an ODI against Ireland in 2011. Stokes got his first taste of test cricket at the Adelaide Oval in the 2013-14 Ashes series. In an otherwise horrid tour, Stokes was a rare bright spot, showing fight and spirit, even cracking a daring 120 on a fraying WACA pitch. A World Cup winner, and one of the finest all rounders to grace the game, Stokes has lived up to his early promise. A talismanic figure, he was appointed test captain in April 2022. An aggressive, forward-thinking player, his early days have been a roaring success but tougher days wait. 

Notable achievements

His impressive records include- Man of the Match in 2019 Cricket World Cup final, Fastest 250 in Tests, highest number of runs in the first session of a day in Tests, and the second cricketer to score over 4,000 runs and more than 100 wickets Tests for England.

Familial life

In 2013, Stokes got engaged to Clare Ratcliffe. The duo tied the knot in October 2017 in East Brent, Somerset. They share two children.