Ben Stokes made a shock retirement from international cricket during the third and final Test of the series against New Zealand in June. Dropped from the squad for the second Test of the series in the aftermath of the nightclub incident following the first game, Stokes made his return for the third Test. However, he decided to quit the game during the fixture. Stokes has been playing for Durham since his retirement. England team’s managing director, Rob Key, kept the door ajar for Stokes to return for the Ashes 2027. But that is unlikely to happen.
