After Tuesday’s match against South Africa, Ben Stokes, one of the most formidable and renowned all-rounders in cricket, will call it quits in the ODI format after 11 years of international play. Due to injuries and fitness, the player has chosen to leave the format. On his social media accounst, the player declared his retirement.
Ben Stokes, “As hard as a decision as this was to come, it’s not as hard dealing with the fact that I can’t give my teammates 100% of myself in this format anymore. The England shirt deserves nothing less from anyone who wears it.”
Key, who chose Stokes to lead the team in tests, described the cricketer’s choice to leave ODIs as “typically selfless.”
“Ben Stokes has had an incredible international career in ODI cricket, culminating in his match-winning performance at the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final,” Key said. “I know this must have been a tough decision, but I completely understand why he has reached this conclusion.
“I’m sure that when we look back on Ben’s career and see this as one of the reasons he will play 120-plus Tests and help England in T20 matches and World Cups for many years to come.
“It is a typically selfless decision that will benefit England long-term.”