Ben Stokes has announced that he will no longer play international cricket. He will make his final England appearance in the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. Before the start of play on Sunday (June 28), the 35-year-old informed the England team of his decision, ending an international career that had begun in 2011 and included captaining the Test team since April 2022. Stokes, one of England's greatest all-rounders, was crucial to some of the country's most memorable victories, including his unbeaten 84 in the ODI World Cup final against New Zealand in 2019 and his remarkable 135 not out at Headingley in the Ashes later that summer. In addition, in the 2016 match against South Africa in Cape Town, his final score of 258 was a career high. After England's victory in the first Test against New Zealand, Stokes was involved in an off-field controversy. The retirement comes less than three weeks later. In addition to breaking the team's midnight curfew, Stokes and Gus Atkinson were reportedly present in a London nightclub incident that also involved a Saracens rugby player and an ECB security staff member. With the Cricket Regulator's investigation ongoing, the ECB ruled both players unavailable for selection for the second Test, prompting Joe Root to step in as stand-in captain. Later, the Cricket Regulator came to the conclusion that there was not enough evidence to prove that either player had broken any ECB Cricket Regulations, so they cleared them of any regulatory offense. The ECB also confirmed that "no blame should be attached to the players for violent conduct at the nightclub", stating that Stokes "was not involved in the altercation and did not witness either incident", while Atkinson "was the victim of unprovoked attacks and did not retaliate on either occasion". However, it was determined that both players had violated their contractual obligations to uphold the highest standards of conduct and act in the best interest of England cricket. They received written warnings, and the European Central Bank deemed their absence from the second test to be sufficient punishment. Brendon McCullum, England's head coach, also denied rumors that the nightclub incident had strained his relationship with Stokes ahead of the series decider at Trent Bridge. "As far as I'm concerned, I consider you a good friend, and obviously we've been through a lot together as a working pair in leadership positions here at English cricket," I told him. In the end, we both want English cricket to do what is right and best, and we know exactly where we want this team to go." Stokes revealed that one of his first actions upon returning to the team was to apologize to his teammates before the third Test. However, prior to the start of day four, he sent a different message to his coworkers on Sunday. "There's something that I know is going to happen over the next two days which is, this is my last two days as your captain and my last two days representing England. The reasons can wait. But I've had many trips to the well before for this team, for you blokes, for people beforehand and I've got one more trip to do. And the only thing I ask...is can everyone please just do the same?" said Stokes in an address to the team, which was recorded and uploaded to the ECB's social media platforms. Stokes stated, "We've got a lot of hard work still to do, and the only thing that I want is to be able to walk off the end of that field regardless of the result knowing that I've had this group of men and one lady give everything for the last two days." He added, "The only thing that I want is just for everyone to give it not only for me selfishly but also for this team and everything else we've got going forward for you blokes." The controversy marked an unexpected final chapter in a captaincy that had otherwise reshaped England's Test fortunes. Stokes and head coach McCullum formed one of the most influential leadership partnerships in the game. Together, they oversaw an aggressive style of cricket that revitalized the team after Joe Root decided to step down. Before the Trent Bridge Test, England won 24 Tests and lost 17, with only two draws under Stokes' captaincy. "Ben Stokes leaves the international game as one of England's greatest ever cricketers and one of the defining figures of his generation. The ECB Chair, Richard Thompson, stated, "His performances under pressure, his unwavering competitiveness, and his capacity to produce the extraordinary when it matters most have given me and millions of other fans memories that will last forever." "Ben has been a talisman figure in English cricket, whether inspiring victory in the biggest moments - not least driving England to World Cup wins in 2019 and 2022 and his heroic Ashes innings at Headingley - or leading the Test team with courage and conviction," Thompson added. "His performances, in addition to his remarkable accomplishments on the field, have inspired many young people to embrace cricket with optimism and faith. "We are losing a batsman, a bowler, a captain and a talisman. I would like to express my gratitude to Ben for everything he has contributed to our sport on behalf of the ECB and wish him and his family every success and happiness in the future. Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, added: "Ben Stokes has made an immeasurable contribution to English cricket, not only through his exceptional skill as one of the world's finest all-rounders, but through the commitment, resilience and passion he has demonstrated throughout his international career. "His influence has extended far beyond statistics - inspiring teammates, supporters and young cricketers around the world through his leadership and unwavering desire to win. We are enormously grateful for his service to England and congratulate him on an extraordinary international career. His contribution to the game will be celebrated for many years to come." Following Kane Williamson, who retired from international cricket following the first Test at Lord's, Stokes is the second high-profile retiree in this series.