England’s 2019 ODI Cricket World Cup hero Ben Stokes retires after 105 games with one final performance against South Africa.
Ben Stokes made just five runs in his swan song against South Africa before leaving the leg before the wicket against Aiden Markram, but when the signal went up the crowd rose to congratulate the Durham all-rounder as the opposing players sprinted over to wishing to give their best.
An unusual farewell for a cricketer who had only reached 5. But this was different: England said goodbye to its hero.
Just two days ago, Ben Stokes announced he was retiring from ODI cricket to focus on his new role as Test captain and his position within the T20 squad.
The 31-year-old has long been England’s talisman with bat, ball and on the field, saving his games on numerous occasions while also doing phenomenally.
The 2019 World Cup hero played his last one-day game against South Africa yesterday (Tuesday 19 July) and although that game may have ended in a 62-race defeat, Stokes ODI’s career will forever be remembered as England’s legendary superstar .
Here are some of Ben Stokes’ best moments from his One Day International career…
This is perhaps not the most momentous of occasions as Stokes has only traveled three times and not bowled. At that point, we didn’t know what the powerful firestarter would achieve
Ben Stokes secured his first of many Player of the Match awards during the 2014 England series against Australia. He hit 70 runs (his first ODI fifty) and won four wickets for just 38.
Ben Stokes scored his first of three ODI centuries during a day/night match against Bangaldesh in October 2016. England eventually won by 21 runs, with Stokes scoring England’s best goal of 101 runs.
At the ICC Champions Trophy in June 2017, Ben Stokes achieved his highest ODI result to date on his way to helping England defeat Australia. Stokes scored 42% of all the runs England needed and was also named Player of the Match