London: England captain Ben Stokes stunned the cricket world on Sunday by announcing his probable retirement from international cricket in the middle of the decisive third Test against New Zealand.
On Day 4 of the series decider at Trent Bridge, 15 minutes before the tea break, the England team released a statement announcing the impending end of Stokes' 15-year international career.
Stokes took a wicket with the first ball he bowled after the announcement was made public. He induced an edge from New Zealand batter Zak Foulkes to second slip, where Harry Brook, who could be England's next captain, completed the catch.
It summed up Stokes' international career as a player who consistently delivered in the biggest moments.
He starred in England's dramatic victory over New Zealand, the country of his birth, in the 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup final at Lord's, scoring 84 before England sealed victory in the Super Over.
He also hit the winning runs as England lifted the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Melbourne in 2022, the same year he became Test captain.
Another defining moment came in the 2019 Ashes at Headingley, where his unbeaten 135 helped England chase down 359 against Australia in one of Test cricket's greatest innings.
"The reasons can wait (about) why", Stokes told his teammates in the England dressing room ahead of Sunday's play, according to a video released by England on social media.
"But I've had many trips to the well before for this team, and I've got one more trip to do".
Stokes was expected to explain the reasons behind his decision at the end of Sunday's play or after the conclusion of the match on Monday.
His decision may be linked to his recent involvement in an off-field controversy that saw him make front-page news after being dropped for the second Test against New Zealand amid an investigation into an incident following the first Test at Lord's.
Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson were at a London nightclub when an England team security official was reportedly struck by a rugby player from English club Saracens.
The England and Wales Cricket Board dropped Stokes and Atkinson before later stating that they had "breached specific contractual obligations" and were issued written warnings. The sport's independent oversight panel, the Cricket Regulator, later concluded that there was "insufficient evidence to establish that any regulatory breach occurred".
Stokes returned for the third Test, but England head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director of England men's cricket Rob Key did not publicly back their captain during the investigation, something Stokes reportedly described as disappointing and frustrating.
ECB chair Richard Thompson described Stokes 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", Thompson said.
"Beyond his remarkable achievements on the field, his performances have inspired many youngsters to embrace cricket with positivity and belief. We are losing a batter, a bowler, a captain and a talisman".
Stokes has also been a controversial figure during his career.
In 2018, he was found not guilty of affray following a late-night street brawl in Bristol after an international match against the West Indies in 2017.
Following his arrest, footage of the incident was published by a newspaper website. Stokes, who admitted he had been drinking heavily, told the court he had intervened to defend two gay men who were being verbally abused.
He lost the England vice-captaincy and his place on an Ashes tour but was reinstated after being acquitted. Stokes later apologised for bringing cricket into disrepute and said he had "learned lessons that will stay with me for much longer".
In 2021, Stokes stepped away from cricket to focus on his mental health before returning within a year. He was appointed England's Test captain in 2022 and, alongside Brendon McCullum, ushered in the aggressive and fearless style of cricket that became known as the "Bazball" era.
Harry Brook, England's white-ball captain and current Test vice-captain, is expected to be the leading candidate to succeed Stokes, beginning with the upcoming Test series against Pakistan in August.
However, Brook has also faced disciplinary issues after an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington, New Zealand, before the recent Ashes tour. Although he received a fine and a final warning over his conduct, he retained his white-ball captaincy.
Brook was overlooked for the captaincy during the second Test after Stokes was dropped, with former captain Joe Root taking charge. Root is considered unlikely to return to the role permanently.
England will also face the difficult task of replacing Stokes as an all-rounder, leaving a significant void in the team if he retires.
