Ben Stokes announces his retirement from international cricket.

As if the Indian women losing to Australia and the men’s team loss to Ireland wasn’t enough, a mad sunday has finally come to an end as Ben Stokes, one of England’s greatest all rounders has announced his retirement from international cricket. 

An international career that began in 2011 and included captaining the Test side since April 2022 has now finally ended as it saw many controversies including a recent one in which he and Gus Atkinson were involved in a brawl in a club in London following which he was dropped from the second test which England lost.

One of England's greatest all-rounders, Stokes played defining roles in some of the country's most memorable victories, including his unbeaten 84 in the 2019 ODI World Cup final against New Zealand and his remarkable 135 not out at Headingley later that summer in the Ashes. He also finished with a career-best Test score of 258 against South Africa in Cape Town in 2016.

Stokes, who was villainised after that unfortunate over in 2016 world T20 in which Carlos Brathwaite smashed him for 4 sixes in 4 consecutive deliveries, redeemed himself 2 editions later where he won a final at a jam packed MCG against Pakistan.

"Ben Stokes leaves the international game as one of England's greatest ever cricketers and one of the defining figures of his generation. His performances under pressure, his relentless competitiveness and his ability to produce the extraordinary when it matters most have given me and millions of other fans memories that will endure forever," ECB Chairman Richard Thompson was quoted saying.

The ashes being his favourite series, Stokes played 3 riveting knocks across 5 editions where he scored a terrific 100 in challenging conditions. His persistence at Perth, heroics at Headingley and an innings for the ages at Lords were knocks that would be remembered for ages. In the third test, Stokes bowed out with a blaze as he scored 30 of 20 balls, but England are well and truly placed to lose the series against a high flying New Zealand side.

I'm pretty happy and content with everything I've managed to do," he said. "I'm an Ashes winner, I've won a 50-over World Cup, a T20 World Cup. I've also had the chance to captain the team and play alongside some of the best players to have played the game. There's not too much I can complain about, really."

Stokes’ retirement would certainly be a tough void to fill as he has been one of the most sought after all rounder after Jacques Kallis to grace the game. Although the show must go on, it would be impossible to watch an England game, irrespective of the format without BENJAMIN STOKES in it.