ENGLAND Test captain Ben Stokes has announced he will be retiring from one-day international cricket.
The 31-year-old has declared that he will play his 105th and final ODI match against South Africa at the Seat Unique Riverside on Tuesday.
England legend Ben Stokes has revealed he will be retiring from one-day internationals
Stokes has stated that he cannot give 100 per cent to the ODI side after replacing Joe Root as the Test skipper.
Though the Durham ace has insisted that he will continue to play T20 cricket on the international stage.
He told the ECB: “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 team-mates 100 per cent 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 [Buttler] 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.
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“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.”
More to follow…
