Watch | Ben Stokes Bids Emotional Farewell, Confirms England Exit After Final Test

England Test captain Ben Stokes has announced that he will step down as captain of the England Men's Test team and retire from international cricket following the conclusion of the ongoing series against New Zealand.

He is set to bring down the curtain on his international career after the ongoing third Test at Trent Bridge, which is scheduled to conclude on June 29.

In a video uploaded by England Cricket on X, Stokes announced that the ongoing Test against New Zealand will be his final assignment as an England player.

He said he has given everything for the team over the years and is now ready for "one last trip," urging his teammates to give their all and finish strongly. Stokes added that he wants to end his career proud of the team's effort, before shifting focus back to the match ahead.

"There's something that I know is going to happen over the next two days, which is this is my last two days as your captain and my last two days as representing England,” he said.

What did Ben Stokes say about his final two days as England captain?

“Reasons can wait why, 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. And the only thing that I ask, please, is can everyone please just do the same?,” he added.

"We've done a lot of hard work still to do, and the only thing that I want is to be able to walk off the end of that field regardless of the result, knowing that I've had this group of men and one lady give everything for the last two days," Stokes said in the video.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chair Richard Thompson praised Stokes, calling him one of England's greatest ever cricketers and a defining figure of his generation.

He highlighted Stokes' performances under pressure, his competitiveness, and his ability to deliver in crucial moments, saying these qualities have created unforgettable memories for fans.

"Ben Stokes leaves the international game as one of England's greatest ever cricketers and one of the defining figures of his generation. His performances under pressure, his relentless competitiveness and his ability to produce the extraordinary when it matters most have given me and millions of other fans memories that will endure forever," Thompson said as quoted by the ECB website.

He highlighted Stokes as a key figure in English cricket, citing his match-winning performances in major moments, including England's 2019 and 2022 World Cup victories and his famous Ashes innings of 135 not out at Headingley, as well as his bold leadership of the Test team.

(With inputs from ANI)