Ben Stokes: England captain to retire from international cricket after New Zealand series

Ben Stokes will retire as England Men's Test captain and from international cricket at the end of their series with New Zealand.

The shock announcement was made during the afternoon session on the fourth day of the series decider at Trent Bridge while he was bowling, with Stokes then taking a wicket with the first ball after the news broke at 3.25pm.

The 35-year-old, who made his international debut in ‌2011, has captained England's test team since 2022 and had been contracted until the end of 2027, meaning he could have played in one more Ashes series next summer.

But instead Stokes, known for his fearless batting and defiant leadership, brings the curtain ​down on a career that included the 2019 World Cup triumph and one of the most celebrated Ashes innings of the modern era at Headingley the same year.