Ben Stokes announcing his shock international retirement during England’s Rothesay Series decider against New Zealand has immediately led to intense speculation.
The England captain will end a stellar career for his country at the end of the third Test at Trent Bridge, informing his team-mates and the backroom staff of his intentions ahead of the penultimate day, cryptically saying: “The reasons can wait.”
Relations between Stokes and the England and Wales Cricket Board hierarchy became seemingly strained following the all-rounder breaking curfew and being caught up in a nightclub controversy following the first Test at Lord’s earlier this month.
Stokes at one point even contemplated ending his England career then and there during the fallout but, after being stood down for last week’s defeat the Kia Oval, the 35-year-old and Gus Atkinson were cleared of wrongdoing in an altercation with Saracens rugby union player Totoa Auvaa.
Returning to the fray in Nottingham, Stokes would not be drawn on his future beyond this ongoing Test despite having an England central contract that ran until beyond the 2027 Ashes.
England’s Ashes 2005-winning skipper Michael Vaughan told the BBC’s Test Match Special: “Clearly something has triggered in his mind.
“You look at his contract that he’s got until next year – there’s a home Ashes series next year.
“There were so many rumours about fallouts but I do hope that wasn’t the case, I hope that he just woke up one morning and said he’d had enough. He’s given it everything for such a long period of time.”
Michael Atherton echoed his fellow former England captain’s assessment after the news of Stokes ending a remarkable career was confirmed just before the tea interval.
Atherton said on commentary for Sky Sports: “It’s an extraordinary moment, a stunning moment, and it begs a number of questions, why and why now?
“In the middle of a day’s cricket with still a day to go with a match to win, draw or lose and a series on the line. But I think there have been some signs there throughout this series, both at Lord’s initially when he looked like a man who had been leading England for four years.
“He missed the Oval for disciplinary reasons, back for this Test match and he has decided that enough is enough.”
While there is some debate about Stokes’ relationship with the ECB, the governing body’s chair Richard Thompson led the plaudits to the 35-year-old, one of only two players to amass 7,000-plus runs and take 250 or more wickets in Tests.
Stokes was instrumental in England’s seminal 2019 50-over World Cup triumph on home soil, weeks later following up with a century for the ages in the Ashes at Headingley.
Thompson told the ECB’s website: “Ben Stokes leaves the international game as one of England’s greatest ever cricketers and one of the defining figures of his generation.
“His performances under pressure, his relentless competitiveness and his ability to produce the extraordinary when it matters most have given me and millions of other fans memories that will endure forever.
“Beyond his remarkable achievements on the field, his performances have inspired many youngsters to embrace cricket with positivity and belief. We are losing a batsman, a bowler, a captain and a talisman.”
Stokes fittingly went on to take a wicket with his first ball after the news was made public, catching the edge of Zak Foulkes as Harry Brook gobbled up a low chance at second slip.
Former England team-mate Stuart Broad said on Sky Sports: “What a magical moment. Who writes his scripts? (He is) a talisman of English cricket.”
Vaughan added: “That was an immediate reminder of what England are going to miss. That’s exactly why he is a great, and incredible player.
“I am still completely stunned. I just didn’t see it coming, but I did see the wicket coming because he has done that throughout his entire career. Whenever England need something, he has always delivered.”
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