{"id":187252,"date":"2026-06-28T22:44:03","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T04:14:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=187252"},"modified":"2026-06-28T22:44:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T04:14:03","slug":"ben-stokes-content-after-extraordinary-england-exit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=187252","title":{"rendered":"Ben Stokes \u2018content\u2019 after extraordinary England exit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"content-body-71159970\">England captain Ben Stokes insisted he felt \u201ccontent\u201d after announcing his shock retirement from international cricket on Sunday in the middle of a Test match.<\/p>\n<p>The 35-year-old all-rounder confirmed his exit shortly before Tea on the fourth day of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand in Nottingham, having informed his teammates before the start of Sunday\u2019s play.<\/p>\n<p>Stokes was in the middle of a lengthy bowling spell, with the three-match series all square at 1-1, when news filtered into a stunned crowd at Trent Bridge.<\/p>\n<p>He then received a standing ovation and in a moment of pure sporting theatre, Stokes had Zak Foulkes caught at slip with his next ball to spark yet more raucous cheers.<\/p>\n<p>Stokes &#8212; normally a middle-order batter &#8212; then came out to open the innings in a move that summed up England\u2019s aggressive \u2018Bazball\u2019 since he joined forces with England head coach Brendon McCullum in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>England, however, faced a stiff target of 373 and, after Stokes fell for a typically blazing 30, three more batters were dismissed before stumps as England closed on 103-4 &#8212; still needing 270 more to win on Monday\u2019s final day.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m pretty happy and content with everything I\u2019ve managed to do,\u201d Stokes told        <i>Sky Sports.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve captained, I\u2019m an Ashes winner, I\u2019ve won a 50-over World Cup, a T20 World Cup. I\u2019ve also had the opportunity to captain the team and play alongside some of the best players to have played the game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sunday\u2019s bombshell announcement came after Stokes returned to England duty following the fall-out from a London nightclub incident also involving teammate Gus Atkinson earlier this month.<\/p>\n<p>The pair was 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, however, was cleared to lead England at Trent Bridge.<\/p>\n<p>England\u2019s 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia, concluded in January, was also marred by allegations of a drinking culture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince the Ashes it\u2019s been really tough,\u201d said Stokes, appointed England skipper in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the best thing I\u2019ve ever been asked to do, captain this team and captain this country&#8230; As good as it is, there are bits where it does drain you, and does affect you in an emotional way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Stokes has been responsible for some of England\u2019s most remarkable performances since making his international debut 15 years ago.<\/p>\n<p>His unbeaten 84 against New Zealand in the 2019 ODI World Cup final at Lord\u2019s helped take the match into a Super Over in which England sealed a thrilling win.<\/p>\n<p>And weeks later his extraordinary 135 not out guided England to a remarkable one-wicket win in the third Ashes Test against Australia at Headingley,.<\/p>\n<p>Stokes is the only player other than retired South Africa great Jacques Kallis to have scored more than 7,000 runs, while also taking at least 250 wickets in Test cricket.<\/p>\n<p>But he was also hit for four successive sixes by Carlos Brathwaite as the West Indies won the 2016 T20 World Cup final in Kolkata despite needing an unlikely 19 for victory off the last over.<\/p>\n<p>Stokes\u2019s international career was in the balance, however, when he faced a criminal trial after a fracas outside a nightclub in Bristol, southwest England, following a 2017 one-day international against the West Indies.<\/p>\n<p>He was ultimately found not guilty on a charge of affray but by then Stokes had missed an Ashes series loss in Australia.<\/p>\n<p>Stokes played 120 of his 122 Tests alongside Joe Root, his predecessor as captain and a longstanding friend.<\/p>\n<p>Root, speaking to reporters after Sunday\u2019s close, said Stokes would \u201cbe the first person on my team-sheet in terms of making moments and creating history\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Root, one of England\u2019s greatest batters, added: \u201cHe put every last bit into every game. He never shirked any kind of responsibility or left it to anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Richard Thompson hailed Stokes as a \u201ctalismanic figure\u201d, while McCullum said, \u201cBen\u2019s contribution to the game transcends cricket\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"publish-time\" id=\"end-of-article\">Published on Jun 29, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/sportstar.thehindu.com\/cricket\/why-ben-stokes-retired-england-international-eng-vs-nz-3rd-test\/article71159970.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>England captain Ben Stokes insisted he felt \u201ccontent\u201d after announcing his shock retirement from international cricket on Sunday in the middle of a Test match. The 35-year-old all-rounder confirmed his&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":187253,"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-187252","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\/2026-06-28T175150Z_1094004680_UP1EM6S1DMCAU_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-ENG-NZL.JPG","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":187138,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=187138","url_meta":{"origin":187252,"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":187174,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=187174","url_meta":{"origin":187252,"position":1},"title":"Michael Atherton questions timing of shock Stokes exit","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 28, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"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 announced he would be bringing down the curtain on his stellar international career at the end of the ongoing third\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\/image2079.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2079.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2079.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2079.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2079.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":182235,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=182235","url_meta":{"origin":187252,"position":2},"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":187252,"position":3},"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":187252,"position":4},"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":[]},{"id":183564,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=183564","url_meta":{"origin":187252,"position":5},"title":"Stokes to return as England captain for 3rd New Zealand Test &#8211; McCullum","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"en Stokes will return as England captain for next week\u2019s third and deciding Test against New Zealand in Nottingham, England head coach Brendon McCullum announced Sunday. Stokes was stood down from England\u2019s 253-run defeat by New Zealand in the second Test at the Oval for breaching a team curfew following\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\/image2082.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2082.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2082.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2082.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/image2082.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgnRh4-MIc","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187252","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=187252"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187252\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/187253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=187252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=187252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=187252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}