England All-Rounder Ben Stokes Retires From One-Day Cricket

The highlight of Ben Stokes' ODI career was him winning the player of the match award for his performance against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup final at Lord's.

England all-rounder Ben Stokes.

Source : AFP

New Delhi: England cricket team's star all-rounder Ben Stokes will retire from One-Day cricket  following Tuesday’s Royal London International against South Africa to focus on his role as Test captain. He will play his career's last ODI match on his home ground at the Seat Unique Riverside.

Stokes has scored 2919 runs in 104 ODIs for England with 74 wickets. The highlight of his ODI career was him winning the player of the match award for his performance against New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup final at Lord's. He scored an unbeaten 84 in this final match, helping England win their first 50-over World Cup.

Ben Stokes said: "I will play my last game for England in ODI cricket on Tuesday in Durham. I have decided to retire from this format. This has been an incredibly tough decision to make. I have loved every minute of playing with my mates for England. We have had an incredible journey on the way.

"As hard as a decision as this was to come to, it’s not as hard dealing with the fact I can’t give my teammates 100% of myself in this format anymore. The England shirt deserves nothing less from anyone who wears it.

"Three formats are just unsustainable for me now. Not only do I feel that my body is letting me down because of the schedule and what is expected of us, but I also feel that I am taking the place of another player who can give Jos and the rest of the team their all. It’s time for someone else to progress as a cricketer and make incredible memories like I have over the past 11 years.

"I will give everything I have to Test cricket, and now, with this decision, I feel I can also give my total commitment to the T20 format.

"I would like to wish Jos Buttler, Matthew Mott, the players and the support staff every success going forward. We have made great strides in white-ball cricket over the past seven years, and the future looks bright.

"I have loved all 104 games I have played so far, I’ve got one more, and it feels amazing to be playing my last game at my home ground in Durham.

"As always, the England fans have always been there for me and will continue to be there. You’re the best fans in the world. I hope we can win on Tuesday and set the series up nicely against South Africa."