The ECB announced on July 18 that England all-rounder Ben Stokes has made the decision to stop playing ODIs.
The first One-Day International between England and South Africa will be Stokes’ last in the format, the 31-year-old revealed, adding that it was “an unbelievably tough decision.”
Stokes has amassed 2919 runs, including three centuries, and 74 wickets in ODIs since making his debut against Ireland in 2011.
“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 as 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,” posted Ben Stokes
