Cricket fans around the world were shocked when it came to light that 35-year-old Ben Stokes was set to retire from international cricket. England skipper decided to relay his decision to his teammates in the dressing room ahead of the 4th day of the Nottingham Test match versus New Zealand.
The legendary cricketer is set to walk away from the game as one of the best all-rounders in the modern era. Durham star played 122 Test matches and scored over 7000 runs, and in his final innings, he opened the batting and scored 30 runs from 20 balls. He had also completed 250 Test wickets during the Nottingham Test.
Speaking to his teammates, the player said, “The reasons can wait, why, but I have had many trips to the well before for this team, for you blokes, for people beforehand, and I’ve got more trips to do. The only thing I ask, please, is can everyone do the same? We have got a lot of hard work to do and want to walk off the field, regardless of the result, is the feeling that this lot gave everything in the last two days.”
The player’s career has had some amazing highs and some newsworthy, controversial moments as well.
Here are the top 5 Ben Stokes performances in international cricket
5- 120 vs Australia – Perth Test 2013
The series, which was known to be Mitchell Johnson’s finest hour, saw the young batter score his first century in international cricket. Batting in the 4th innings against a strong Australian bowling unit was never going to be easy. Chasing 504 runs to retain the Ashes was a huge task. The southpaw batting on a difficult pitch scored 120 runs from 195 balls before Nathan Lyon dismissed him.
4- 4/40 vs India – Edgbaston Test 2018
The 2018 Edgbaston Test will be remembered for one of the best bowling spells by Ben Stokes with the red ball. India needed 194 to win the game and fancied winning till Joe Root got his star all-rounder into the attack. English star first got rid of KL Rahul for 13 runs. Then, later, he got the big wicket of Virat Kohli for 51 that turned the game in his team’s favour before dismissing Mohammed Shami and Ishan Sharma. That spell helped England win the game by 32 runs and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
3- 52 not out vs Pakistan – T20 World Cup Final 2022, Melbourne
England and Pakistan played the 2022 T20 World Cup final in front of a packed MCG crowd. Babar Azam and his side managed to score 137 on the board as Sam Curran bowled well to pick 3/12 from his four overs. England were reduced to 45/3 in the seventh over. Left-handed batter then took charge and scored 52 not out from 49 balls to help the Three Lions win their second T20 World Cup title.
2- 84 not out vs New Zealand – 2019 ODI World Cup final, Lord’s
The biggest moment in English cricket history is winning the 2019 ODI World Cup in front of their home fans. Kane Williamson’s side batted first and scored 241 on the board; Henry Nicholls top-scored with 55 while Tom Latham managed to score 47. In reply, the hosts were reduced to 86/4 in the 24th over. It was the Kiwi-born England player who shone with the bat, scoring 84 not out from 98 balls to tie the game. Eoin Morgan’s side prevailed due to a better boundary count as the super-over also ended in a tie.
1- 135 not out vs Australia – Leeds Test 2019
The miracle of Headingley from 1981 finally saw worthy competition thanks to Ben Stokes’ unbeaten ton in the 2019 Ashes series. Australia was bowled out for 179 in the first innings. Josh Hazlewood’s fifer meant that the English side were bundled out for a mere 67 to give his side a massive lead of 112.
In the second essay, the visiting side were all out for 246 with Marnus Labuschagne top scoring with 80. Chasing 359 to win, England still needed 73 runs when Stuart Broad became the ninth wicket to fall. The soon-to-retire England star then added 76 runs for the last wicket with Jack Leach to pull off an unbelievable win for his team. That knock is still rated as one of the best by many fans in world cricket. Left-hander ended the innings 135 not out from 219 balls with 11 fours and eight huge sixes.
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