Ben Stokes will conclude his legendary 15-year career as only the second player in Test cricket history to reach the dual milestone of 7,000 runs and 250 wickets, alongside South Africa's iconic Jacques Kallis. Stokes announced his international retirement on June 28, 2026, midway through the third Test decider against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, Stokes will leave an unmatched legacy of clutch match-winning performances and a revolutionary approach to leadership.
Stokes was a master across all conditions and versions of the game. His career statistics across all three international formats showcase his balanced value as a middle-order batsman and strike bowler. He has played 114 ODI matches and scored 3,463 runs along with 74 wickets.
A formidable player in ODI and Tests, Stokes has played only 43 T20Is where he has accumulated 585 runs and dismissed players only 26 times. He was appointed permanent Test captain in April 2022 following a difficult period for the team. Alongside head coach Brendon McCullum, he entirely overhauled red-ball cricket.
Stokes led England in 44 Test matches, securing 24 victories, 17 losses, and 3 draws. This yields a highly successful win percentage of 54.5% for his leadership era. Under his watch, England pulled off historic achievements, including a dominant 3-0 clean sweep away in Pakistan and explosive home series victories over top-tier nations.
Ben Stokes signs off after career filled with iconic match-winning performances
Stokes transformed the way Test cricket is approached from a power-hitting perspective. On February 18, 2023, he smashed a delivery from Scott Kuggeleijn to claim the all-time world record for the most sixes hit in Test history. He will retire with 136 Test sixes, far ahead of the previous top hitter, including Brendon Mccullum who hit 107 sixes for New Zealand and Adam Gilchrist who hit 100 sixes while playing for Australia.
In Africa, the 35-year-old compiled an extraordinary innings of 258 in Cape Town. This milestone set two massive records of highest test score by an individual by scoring 258 at Number 6 and broke the World Record for that position. He reached the 200-run milestone in just 163 balls, making it the second-fastest double hundred in the history of Test cricket, trailing only New Zealand's Nathan Astle (153 balls).
Ben Stokes has defined his legacy by dragging England to victory in impossible situations.At Headingley 2019, England needed 73 runs with only one wicket remaining against Australia. Stokes played arguably the greatest Test innings ever, smashing an unbeaten 135* to seal a miraculous one-wicket victory.In the 2019 ODI World Cup Final, he anchored a tense run chase against New Zealand.
His unbeaten 84* forced a thrilling Super Over, securing England’s maiden 50-over world title. At the 2022 T20 World Cup Final at the MCG, he displayed absolute composure against a fierce Pakistan bowling attack. His calculated 52* ensured England won the trophy, cementing his status as cricket's ultimate big-match winner.
