Jos: Stokes retirement should be a ‘wake-up call’
EnglandcaptainJosButtlerbelieves Ben Stokes’ retirement from one-day cricket should act as a ‘wake-up call’ for the game, as he faces up to his own challengeoffindingawaytoreplace his star all-rounder.
Stokes bade farewell to the 50-over game with a disappointing 62-run defeat against South Africa at his home ground in Durham, drawing the curtain on an 11-year career that will always be remembered for his stunning performance in the 2019 World Cup final.
The 31-year-old has made it clear he is departing sooner thanintended,astarkreaction toarelentlessfixtureschedule that no longer allows him to meet his own high standards acrossthreedifferentformats.
Stokes has said England’s calendar has become ‘unsustainable’ and broadened the warningininterviewsaheadof hisfarewellappearance,which yieldedfiguresofnoughtfor44 from five overs and an innings of just five. And it is clear that Buttler shares his concerns. England are seven games through a run of 12 white-ball internationals in 24 days, with four Test matches already in the books and three against the Proteas still to come.
“Itshoulddefinitelybeabit of a wake-up call. Absolutely. Especiallywiththemagnitude of the player,” he said.
“Ben’s one of the most recognisable players in world cricket, someone everyone wants to see play in every format. I’m sure there’s more to it than the schedules etc but I think in international cricket youalwayswantyourbestplayers playing if possible.
“It’s bittersweet as an England fan, there’s sadness that Ben is no longer available in this form of the game. But our loss in ODI cricket is England’s gain in Test cricket.”