Former England captain Ben Stokes is set to make his competitive return to cricket when he lines up for Durham against Derbyshire in the opening round of the One-Day Cup, less than a month after retiring from international cricket.
The 35-year-old all-rounder will make his first domestic one-day appearance in 12 years, with his comeback coinciding with the opening day of the new season of The Hundred.
Stokes stunned the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from international cricket during England’s third Test against New Zealand last month. Although he missed the second Test while an investigation into an incident at a London nightclub was underway, he featured for Durham in a County Championship match against Northamptonshire, an experience he later described as reigniting his love for the game.
“Being back at Durham, when I wasn’t playing in the second Test, I found a new lease of life for the game, but unfortunately I just couldn’t get that feeling back,” Stokes said, as quoted by BBC Sport.
“I’m very excited about the next part of what I get to do. Going back to play for my boyhood club Durham, I’m comparing this week to that week, right now I am buzzing.
“But there have been moments this week that have been really tough. It just adds to everything and makes it clear that I’ve made the right decision,” he added.
Ben Stokes to play first domestic one-day match in 12 years
Tuesday’s fixture against Derbyshire will be Stokes’ first 50-over appearance since England’s 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, which also proved to be his final limited-overs international.
It will also mark his first One-Day Cup appearance for Durham since 2014 and his first domestic List A match for the county in 12 years.
Stokes’ last one-day outing for Durham came in the club’s victorious 2014 One-Day Cup final against Warwickshire. Earlier in that tournament, he smashed 164 against Nottinghamshire in the semi-final, one of the standout innings of his domestic career.
His most recent domestic 50-over match came in 2017 while representing Canterbury in New Zealand during the period he missed England’s Ashes tour following the Bristol nightclub incident.
Focus shifts to Durham after England retirement
After his One-Day Cup return, Stokes could feature again for Durham in the County Championship before the end of the domestic season.
His return also comes as The Hundred begins a new chapter following the sale of all eight franchises to private investors in a deal worth around £520 million, bringing new ownership groups, rebranded teams and increased player salaries.
Despite the changes, Stokes opted against entering The Hundred player draft, having already committed to representing his boyhood county in the One-Day Cup before announcing his retirement from international cricket.
Depending on Durham’s schedule, supporters could see one of England’s greatest modern cricketers playing at traditional county venues, including South Northumberland Cricket Club, Darlington CC and York CC.