LONDON: England all-rounder Ben Stokes announced that he will be playing his last One-Day International match on Tuesday, which will be against South Africa.
Stokes has played 104 ODI matches and is set to end his international career in the format on his home ground at the Seat Unique Riverside. The 31-year-old’s ODI career will forever be remembered for his Player-of-the-Match performance in the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final at Lord’s.
“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,” Stokes wrote on Twitter.
“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 per cent of myself in this format anymore. The England shirt deserves nothing less from anyone who wears it.”
Adding further, he stated “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,” he added.
The all-rounder further stated that playing his last game at his home ground feels amazing and he hopes for his team’s victory in the clash against the Proteas.
“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,” stated Stokes.
Stokes’ unbeaten 84 helped send the match into a Super Over as England claimed their first ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup title in the most thrilling of circumstances.
After making his ODI debut against Ireland in 2011, Stokes has scored 2,919 runs, including three centuries, and taken 74 wickets. He captained the ODI side during last summer’s victory against Pakistan by 3-0 and has been an inspirational leader. (ANI)