Former England captain Nasser Hussain said England all-rounder Ben Stokes’s decision to retire from ODI cricket is ‘disappointing’ as well as shocking at the same time. However, Stokes, 31, said on Monday that he would be retiring from the ODI format of the game after the ODI series opener between England and South Africa on Tuesday, July 19.
“It is disappointing news to say the least but it is a reflection of where the cricketing schedule is at the moment. It is madness for players,” Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports. “Half the reasons [for his retirement] will be physical, and half will be mental, and mental in Ben’s case is the fact he can’t do things at 70, 80%. He’s not just going to be a bit-part player, he has to do it full on and he’s not willing to do it unless he does it 100 percent. In a way, I respect him immensely for making that decision because that’s how you want every England cricketer to turn up, giving it everything every single day.”
However, Ben Stokes has played 104 ODIs for England after making his debut in 2011. Stokes played 20 ODIs in the World Cup year in 2019 but he has played only 9 ever since, including 3 against India earlier this month as well.
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“I guess it’s the schedule. The cricketing schedule is absolutely crazy at the moment. If you just play in the one format – say Test matches – it’s absolutely fine. But if you’re a multi-format, multi-dimensional player, and even a Test Match captain like Ben Stokes, who throws himself into his job 100% on and off the field, eventually something’s going to have to give, and it looks like for Ben it is 50-over cricket which is a real shame because he gave us and England fans the greatest day for a very long time in 2019, a day we’ll never forget with that World Cup final,” Hussain added.
Meanwhile, former England captain Michael Vaughan has blamed the franchise tournaments across the globe as the reason behind players retiring from one particular format of cricket. Ben Stokes, who will play his farewell ODI match against South Africa on July 19, said that he did not want to take up the place of another cricketer, knowing he won’t be able to give his 100 per cent in the 50-over format anymore.
A disappointed Vaughan added, “Bi lateral ODI / T20 series will have to go if all the boards around the world are desperate for there own Franchise tournaments !! Something has to give .. It shouldn’t be players retiring from one format aged 31!!!!”
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In his ODI retirement post, Stokes further said: “Three formats are just unsustainable for me now. Not only do I feel that my body is letting me down because of the schedule and what is expected of us, but I also feel that I am taking the place of another player who can give Jos (Buttler) and the rest of the team their all.”
“It’s time for someone else to progress as a cricketer and make incredible memories like I have over the past 11 years. I will give everything I have to Test cricket, and now, with this decision, I feel I can also give my total commitment to the T20 format,” he concluded.
