Ben Stokes pens heartfelt farewell after calling time on 15-year England career

Former England captain Ben Stokes has shared an emotional farewell message following his retirement from international cricket, thanking fans, teammates and loved ones for standing by him throughout an extraordinary 15-year journey.

Days after bringing the curtain down on his England career following the third Test against New Zealand, the 35-year-old reflected on the highs, lows and unforgettable moments that shaped one of the most celebrated careers in English cricket.

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“It’s been a mad 15 years. It’s had everything thrown at it, from the highest highs to the lowest lows, both on and off the field,” Stokes wrote in a post on X.

“My time was up, and no one was going to make that decision except me. I just want to say I love every England fan and every cricket fan who has supported me throughout the years.”

It’s been a mad 15 years. It’s had everything thrown in there, from the highest highs to the lowest lows (on and off the field 😜).

My time was up, and no one was going to be able to make that decision other than me.

But in the meantime, I just want to say I ❤️ every single…

— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) July 3, 2026

Stokes also reserved special praise for his teammates, saying representing England alongside them had been the greatest privilege of his career.

“I’ve loved every single person I’ve walked onto the field with representing England. I could go on forever, but I hope everyone understands how much I loved doing what I did for the last 15 years. I’m looking forward to supporting the team as a fan now and maybe enjoying the odd day in hospitality. Family, friends, teammates, fans… I love you all. Stokesy.”

Widely regarded as one of England’s greatest all-rounders, Stokes retires with a legacy built on delivering when it mattered most. His unbeaten 84 in the dramatic 2019 ODI World Cup final against New Zealand helped England lift the trophy for the first time after a historic Super Over, while just weeks later he produced an unforgettable 135 not out at Headingley to inspire one of the greatest Test victories in Ashes history.

He also played a pivotal role in England’s 2022 T20 World Cup triumph before ushering in the aggressive ‘Bazball’ era as Test captain, transforming the team’s approach in the longest format.

Stokes ends his international career with 122 Test appearances, including 44 as captain, scoring more than 7,000 runs and claiming over 200 wickets. He also represented England in 114 One-Day Internationals and 43 T20 Internationals, leaving the game as one of the country’s finest all-format cricketers and one of the defining players of his generation.