{"id":187174,"date":"2026-06-28T18:39:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T00:09:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=187174"},"modified":"2026-06-28T18:39:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T00:09:05","slug":"michael-atherton-questions-timing-of-shock-stokes-exit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=187174","title":{"rendered":"Michael Atherton questions timing of shock Stokes exit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"content-body-71158927\">Ben Stokes\u2019s shock decision to announce his international retirement in the middle of a Test match left former England skipper Michael Atherton asking, \u201cwhy and why now?\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>England captain Stokes announced he would be bringing down the curtain on his stellar international career at the end of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand while the match was still in progress, with news of his bombshell exit made public shortly before tea on Sunday\u2019s fourth day at Trent Bridge.<\/p>\n<p>There was yet more drama in a three-match series locked at 1-1 when all-rounder Stokes, normally a middle-order batsman, came out to open the innings as England set off in pursuit of a victory target of 373.<\/p>\n<p>He made a quickfire 30 off 20 balls before slogging to mid-on, with England\u2019s 50-1 becoming 50-2 when Jacob Bethell was lbw for nought four balls later.<\/p>\n<p>Stokes, speaking before Sunday\u2019s play, had told his England team-mates of his impending exit but said the \u201creasons can wait\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Sunday\u2019s bombshell announcement came after Stokes returned to England duty at Trent Bridge following the fall-out from a London nightclub incident also involving teammate Gus Atkinson earlier this month.<\/p>\n<p>The pair were omitted from a 253-run defeat in the second Test at the Oval for breaking a midnight curfew while celebrating England\u2019s win in the first Test.<\/p>\n<p>Stokes was later handed a written conduct warning but escaped any further disciplinary action and returned to lead the side at Trent Bridge.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s an extraordinary moment, a stunning moment, and it begs a number of questions, why and why now?,\u201d said Atherton, commentating for       <i> Sky Sports<\/i>, of the timing of Stokes\u2019s retirement announcement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the middle of a day\u2019s cricket with still a day to go with a match to win, draw or lose and a series on the line.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I think there have been some signs there throughout this series, both at Lord\u2019s initially when he looked like a man who had been leading England for four years.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe missed the Oval for disciplinary reasons, back for this Test match and he has decided that enough is enough.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile Michael Vaughan, England\u2019s Ashes 2005-winning skipper, told the BBC: \u201cClearly something has triggered in his mind.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou look at his contract that he\u2019s got until next year &#8211; there\u2019s a home Ashes series next year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere were so many rumours about fallouts but I do hope that wasn\u2019t the case, I hope that he just woke up one morning and said he\u2019d had enough. He\u2019s given it everything for such a long period of time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"publish-time\" id=\"end-of-article\">Published on Jun 28, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/sportstar.thehindu.com\/cricket\/england-new-zealand-day-4-ben-stokes-retirement-michael-atherton-criticism\/article71158927.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ben Stokes\u2019s shock decision to announce his international retirement in the middle of a Test match left former England skipper Michael Atherton asking, \u201cwhy and why now?\u201d. England captain Stokes&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":187175,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-187174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2079.jpg","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":187138,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=187138","url_meta":{"origin":187174,"position":0},"title":"Stokes opens batting in farewell Test, gets dismissed for 30","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"England captain Ben Stokes fell for 30 in his last international innings after announcing his surprising retirement from international cricket on Sunday in the middle of the third Test. The 35-year-old all-rounder confirmed his impending exit shortly before tea on the fourth day of the ongoing third Test against New\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_B8L879M.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_B8L879M.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_B8L879M.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_B8L879M.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP_B8L879M.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":176286,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=176286","url_meta":{"origin":187174,"position":1},"title":"Stokes backs Archer amid criticism over IPL commitments and absence from first Test against New Zealand","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"England captain Ben Stokes said the \u201clandscape of cricket\u201d has changed as he defended Jofra Archer\u2019s absence from the first Test against New Zealand at Lord\u2019s because of the fast bowler\u2019s IPL commitments. Archer was part of the Rajasthan Royals side that lost to Gujarat Titans in the IPL qualifier\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/PTI05_29_2026_000554A.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/PTI05_29_2026_000554A.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/PTI05_29_2026_000554A.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/PTI05_29_2026_000554A.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/PTI05_29_2026_000554A.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":177866,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=177866","url_meta":{"origin":187174,"position":2},"title":"Stokes bats for better pitches after England\u2019s four-day win over New Zealand at Lord\u2019s","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"England captain Ben Stokes warned Sunday that test cricket, a format under massive threat from the Twenty20 game, needs better pitches than the one served up at Lord\u2019s for his team\u2019s 115-run win over New Zealand in the first match of the series. The test at the home of cricket\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-07T123011Z_1510545216_UP1EM670YQ9FB_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-07T123011Z_1510545216_UP1EM670YQ9FB_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-07T123011Z_1510545216_UP1EM670YQ9FB_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-07T123011Z_1510545216_UP1EM670YQ9FB_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-07T123011Z_1510545216_UP1EM670YQ9FB_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":182235,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=182235","url_meta":{"origin":187174,"position":3},"title":"ENG vs NZ: Ben Stokes to play County Championship for Durham in England absence","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Ben Stokes will play for Durham against Northamptonshire in the County Championship as he sits out of England\u2019s ongoing second Test against New Zealand after being involved in an incident in a nightclub. Full-time Test captain Stokes and Gus Atkinson were dropped from the England playing XI, with Joe Root\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Britain_England_New_Zealand_Cricket_65345.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Britain_England_New_Zealand_Cricket_65345.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Britain_England_New_Zealand_Cricket_65345.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Britain_England_New_Zealand_Cricket_65345.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Britain_England_New_Zealand_Cricket_65345.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":182795,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=182795","url_meta":{"origin":187174,"position":4},"title":"England captain Stokes in action for Durham as Test recall looms","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Dropped England captain Ben Stokes was denied a wicket with just his fourth ball as he returned to action for Durham in their County Championship match against Northamptonshire on Friday. Stokes and England team-mate Gus Atkinson were dropped from the ongoing second Test against New Zealand at the Oval after\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2282382897.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2282382897.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2282382897.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2282382897.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2282382897.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":185022,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=185022","url_meta":{"origin":187174,"position":5},"title":"England captain Stokes insists he is \u2018man enough\u2019 to apologise after curfew breach","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Returning captain Ben Stokes insisted he had been \u201cman enough\u201d to apologise to his England team-mates after missing the last Test for breaching a curfew. Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were dropped from the second Test against New Zealand after breaking a midnight curfew in an incident at a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-23T131401Z_162362782_UP1EM6N10RCV1_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL-PREVIEW.JPG?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-23T131401Z_162362782_UP1EM6N10RCV1_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL-PREVIEW.JPG?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-23T131401Z_162362782_UP1EM6N10RCV1_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL-PREVIEW.JPG?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-23T131401Z_162362782_UP1EM6N10RCV1_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL-PREVIEW.JPG?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-23T131401Z_162362782_UP1EM6N10RCV1_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL-PREVIEW.JPG?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgnRh4-MGW","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=187174"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187174\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/187175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=187174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=187174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=187174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}