Highs and lows of England Test captain Ben Stokes' international career

Ben Stokes, a titan of English cricket and captain of the Test team, announced his retirement from international cricket on Sunday, bringing an end to a career defined by both extraordinary triumphs and significant personal challenges. The all-rounder, celebrated for his aggressive batting and potent pace bowling, leaves behind a legacy as one of England's finest cricketers.

Since making his debut in 2011, Stokes amassed over 10,000 runs and claimed more than 300 wickets across One-Day Internationals, T20 Internationals, and Test matches. His career is punctuated by iconic moments, including a match-winning unbeaten 84 in the 2019 ICC World Cup Final and a sensational 135 not out at Headingley during the 2019 Ashes, feats that cemented his reputation for performing under immense pressure.

However, Stokes's journey was also marked by adversity. He faced a highly publicized nightclub incident in 2017, leading to an affray charge and a temporary suspension from the team. In 2021, he took an indefinite break from the sport to focus on his mental well-being, citing the impact of his father's death, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the handling of the Bristol incident. He later returned to lead England, ushering in an aggressive new era of Test cricket known as "Bazball" alongside coach Brendon McCullum.

Stokes's final year saw him achieve another personal milestone, scoring the fastest Test half-century by an English player in July 2024, reaching 50 off just 24 balls. He departs the international stage having been a part of England's victorious 2019 Cricket World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup campaigns.