England Test captain Ben Stokes announces shock RETIREMENT from international cricket

Ben Stokes has sensationally revealed he is retiring from international cricket during England’s ongoing third Test against New Zealand.

The news broke while the England Test captain was in the middle of a bowling spell at Trent Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

While he was playing, a statement was released that he will end his 15-year international career at the conclusion of this Test, which England look set to lose.

The decision completes an intense few weeks for Stokes who was omitted from England’s second Test defeat by New Zealand after a nightclub incident which also included team-mate Gus Atkinson.

As well as the statement, a video then surfaced of an emotional Stokes telling his team-mates of his decision in the dressing room.

‘The reasons can wait, 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,’ his speech began.

‘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.’

In true Stokes fashion, his first delivery since the news broke saw him take a wicket – with Zak Foulkes caught at second slip.

With England set 373 for victory, Stokes promoted himself to open and hit 30 off 20 balls in his final innings before he was caught by Daryl Mitchell off Foulkes.

He leaves Test cricket as one of the sport’s greatest-ever all-rounders having made 7,253 runs and taken 252 wickets.