Ben Stokes announces his retirment

[Watts.E.Dunn]

In the middle of a game at Trent bridge!..

[tightfoot69]

Some incredible moments but what is all this guff about being a great England Captain? 4 series against India and Australia and didn’t win any of them.

It’s not going to get much better with Harry Brook. One of the dumbest cricketers there has been.

[timsussex]

I suspect McCullum will soon follow and will lead to wholesale changes starting with captain - Brook wont last long

[scutty brown]

good riddance
no room for pissheads in a professional sports team

[Dark Vader]

I heard a few pundits on the radio saying because Ben is such a good player and England can't do with out him, there should be zero punishment and zero accountability for breaking his own curfew rules. No doubt they will now say the ECB have driven him out of the game.

[shiptonlad]

Hope Mccullum and key will follow.

[Jumping Jack Flash]

What a wonderful player Ben Stokes has been for England and in the main a good captain too. He retires as an Ashes winner, a 50 over World Cup winner and a 20 over World Cup winner, there ain’t many that can say that.

His innings at Headingley in 2019 was one of the greatest test innings from an England player and he gave everything he had for his team.

The lack of credible alternative captains is a worry so I expect a very fallow period for English cricket is ahead of us.

[Pillowtalk]

It's time to have a complete rethink of the England set up. Not only do England need a new captain but also a new all-rounder. Stokes' boots will be hard to fill.
Is it worth sticking with Bethall and Bashir and maybe a couple of others too? Probably not. A new captain from outside the current set up is required (no idea who). Too often England captains have assumed the role with little/no prior experience - Root, Cook, Gower, Stokes spring to mind and none have had conspicuous success. Let's pick an experienced captain from one of the counties and build a team around him. I think probably only 2-3 players should be guaranteed places in any new set up.
Time for fresh thinking and a few new players.

[Jumping Jack Flash]

Bethell is a massive talent and scored 150 in Australia 3 Tests ago, and got 74 here. It’s probably worth not chucking him yet…

There’s no credible England captain in the county game, if they were good enough then they’d be in the test side already. They will probably make Brook captain which is a worry. He’s either too thick or too far up his own arse to manage his own innings let alone the rest of the team.

[Harry Monk]

When he was first announced as captain I was surprised as I didn't think he had the discipline for the role.
I was wrong and he seemed to have brought a great brand of leadership and sometimes his legendary performances certainly showed the way.

I'm sure there's lots behind the scenes that we aren't aware of but I can't help feel this move and how it's been carried out are self indulgent.
Coming out to bat first ???Really
Didn't we need the front line batters to get in and build and then if a run chase was on to go for it.

Bet the didn't have McFlys' "it's all about you " on the play list 

[Chorley]

Thank.fuck he's going. An arrogant and petulant  egotiist. Hopefully Key and McCullum follow swiftly afer!

[Jumping Jack Flash]

Thank.fuck he's going. An arrogant and petulant  egotiist. Hopefully Key and McCullum follow swiftly afer!

He’s been our best player for a decade, he’s up there with Flintoff and Botham

[timsussex]

His record is the best English all rounder but he has been a prat off the field SO MANY TIMES from breaking his hand punching the dressing room wall in 2014 upto his latest escapade ignoring the curfew he was part of setting

[Jumping Jack Flash]

His record is the best English all rounder but he has been a prat off the field SO MANY TIMES from breaking his hand punching the dressing room wall in 2014 upto his latest escapade ignoring the curfew he was part of setting

Botham got into many scrapes including a drug ban, Flintoff had his moments too. Sometimes geniuses are flawed in all walks of life.

[scutty brown]

Botham got into many scrapes including a drug ban, Flintoff had his moments too. Sometimes geniuses are flawed in all walks of life.

you can accuse Botham of many things, but being a genius isn't one of them.

[Jumping Jack Flash]

you can accuse Botham of many things, but being a genius isn't one of them.

He’s was a genius on the cricket pitch until injuries took their toll and reduced his powers. He is a total knob though.

[Harry Monk]

IMO this applies to many sports people who are told from a young age how great they are and this can lead to them believing they can act with impunity.

How many footballers does this apply to ?

The club has a responsibility but they see talent and an asset that can earn them lots of money, the same mistakes are repeated.

The suggestion is that when The Ashes come around Stokes will reappear like a knight in shining amour reinforcing  his impunity card

[Chorley]

IMO this applies to many sports people who are told from a young age how great they are and this can lead to them believing they can act with impunity.

How many footballers does this apply to ?

The club has a responsibility but they see talent and an asset that can earn them lots of money, the same mistakes are repeated.

The suggestion is that when The Ashes come around Stokes will reappear like a knight in shining amour reinforcing  his impunity card

This 100% An aquaintance of mine has regular dealing with elite sports men and women and  seemed tonthink the majority of them were arrogant  egotistical twats.

[Nomerzypuntr]

Still remember that WT20 final vs WI, Kolkata, "Carlos Braithwate, remember the name". Ben Stokes got 4 sixes in last over, then rise of true legend, Best all rounder for England in this decade. Watched his winning moments- live in TV, Ashes, WC 2019