Retiring Stokes tells stunned teammates of England decision

Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket.

The England captain informed his teammates prior to play on Day 4 of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge that this match will be his last.

Some look stunned as he revealed the news.

“The reasons can wait, why, 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,” he said.

“The only thing that I ask, please, is can everyone do the same. We’ve got a lot of hard work to do and the only thing I want is to be able to walk off that field, regardless of the result, knowing that I’ve had this group give everything for the last two days.

“That’s the only thing I want, for everyone to give it not only for me, selfishly, but also for this team. I’ve got the emotional side out of it. Now it’s time to go to work. Please, everyone else come with me.”

See the video below:

Stokes, 35, has endured a tumultuous time of late, dropped for the second Test after breaking curfew at a London nightclub with Gus Atkinson.

This current Test is Stokes’ 122nd for England.

He took 2/49 before making 30 in the second innings with England still 270 short with six wickets in hand.

After the day's play, Stokes explained his mindset in an interview with Sky Sports.

"I've been through some rocky times, personally, having to feel like I'm pushing myself through and feel like I'm having to do something because it's the right thing to do," he said.

"To be honest, it might sound quite selfish, but this decision is generally the best thing for me right now. Whether that means it's the best thing for the team going forward, I hope so.

"It comes down to what I think is going to allow me to still love this game that I've played since I was a kid and has given me a career. I'm very excited about the next part of what I get to do - going back and playing for my boyhood club Durham.

"There's been moments this week where it's been really tough and again that just adds to everything. It really makes it very clear in your mind that you're probably making the right decision."

He says it has come to a point where he finds it difficult to get up for each matchn with England.

"The whole Lord's Test to me was something that I guess brought back some negative feelings about where I was in my career," Stokes explained.

"I'd worked so hard from getting back home (from the Ashes) to try and make things right - that's what I thought I was doing. I'd put so much time and effort into it, I maybe potentially had burnt myself out.

"When I got to that week at Lord's, it was a very interesting and strange feeling to go into that game. I gave myself as much time (on retirement), I spoke to as many people as I possibly could through the process of this.

"As I was putting me pads on yesterday (Saturday), getting ready to go out there, that was that sort of last nail in the coffin."