Ben Stokes receives a spherical of applause as he steps on the sector.© AFP
A day after making the shock announcement that he’s retiring from ODIs, Ben Stokes stepped out at his house floor in Durham to play his ultimate match of the format as England took on South Africa of their sequence opener. Stokes, who was England’s hero of their 2019 World Cup ultimate triumph and thru the marketing campaign usually, mentioned it was “unsustainable” for him to play all three codecs and therefore stepped away from ODIs. In a heartwarming gesture, Stokes led the English staff out as they took the sector.
The star all-rounder was visibly emotional as the gang at Chester-le-Road gave him a rousing reception.
Watch: Ben Stokes emotional as he leads England out in his ultimate ODI
#ENGvSA | @benstokes38 pic.twitter.com/teNgTVlV7T
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 19, 2022
England’s newly appointed white-ball captain Jos Buttler got here as much as him and gave him a fast hug earlier than heading on to his place behind the stumps.
South Africa had received the toss and opted to bat within the first ODI.
Stokes on Monday introduced that this is able to be his final match within the format.
This has been an extremely powerful choice to make. I’ve liked each minute of taking part in with my mates for England. We’ve got had an unbelievable journey on the best way,” mentioned Stokes in his assertion.
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“As laborious as a call as this was to return to, it isn’t as laborious coping with the very fact I am unable to give my teammates 100% of myself on this format anymore. The England shirt deserves nothing much less from anybody who wears it. Three codecs are simply unsustainable for me now. Not solely do I really feel that my physique is letting me down due to the schedule and what’s anticipated of us, however I additionally really feel that I’m taking the place of one other participant who may give Jos and the remainder of the staff their all,” he added.
Whereas Stokes is England’s Check captain, he additionally mentioned he’ll proceed taking part in T20Is.
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