Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes is the captain of the England Test cricket team.
Notable Quotes
"Has the pressure on this team ramped up? Well, this is definitely the highest amount of pressure we've been under since me and Baz became coach and captain."View Story →
"this is the 'highest pressure' of his four years in charge."View Story →
"It was a process that needed to be played out. The process has been played out."View Story →
"I love being an England player and love being captain."View Story →
"his team are under the 'highest pressure' of his time in charge."View Story →
""the time was right" to leave international cricket."View Story →
"It might sound quite selfish but this decision is genuinely the best thing for me right now."View Story →
"Being back at Durham, when I wasn't playing in the second Test, I found a new lease of life for the game."View Story →
"'I'm done' - Stokes rules out reversing retirement"View Story →
"I'm doing my level three coaching now while I'm still playing, because I want, when the day comes that I'm not playing any more, I'd love to be able to have all that stuff signed off and done."View Story →
"I wish him [Root] nothing but success. I hope he goes on and achieves amazing things in his role as captain."View Story →
Related Stories
Robinson & Tongue give Root an ideal start to England's new era
Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue each take five wickets to give Joe Root the ideal start to his second spell as England captain as Pakistan are skittled for 171 on the opening day of the series at Headingley.
August 19, 2026Root's great challenge to finish captaincy story
Joe Root has an unexpected chance to address some unfinished business as England captain, but it is one of the biggest challenges of his stellar career.
August 18, 2026Root calls on England to be 'good human beings'
Joe Root calls on his England players to be "really good role models and human beings" at the start of his second reign as Test captain.
August 18, 2026Brook on Test captaincy, batting and Wellington
In an exclusive interview, England's Harry Brook says he supports Joe Root taking the Test captaincy, addresses frustrations about his batting and describes the Wellington nightclub incident fallout.
August 17, 2026Hollman leads Middlesex to first List A final for 36 years
Luke Hollman scores an unbeaten 83 to help Middlesex stun Durham with a two-wicket win in their One-Day Cup semi-final to reach their first List A decider since 1990.
August 16, 2026Notts and Durham reach One-Day Cup semi-finals
Jack Haynes and Kyle Verreyne hit centuries as Notts beat Yorkshire in the One-Day Cup quarter-finals, as Durham also win through.
August 14, 2026Only wins can stop England's curfew hokey-cokey
England have scrapped their midnight curfew seven months after introducing it. Now, only wins will repair the reputational damage they have sustained, says Stephan Shemilt.
August 13, 2026England opener Gay set to be fit for Pakistan Test
Opener Emilio Gay is set to be fit for England’s first Test against Pakistan next week.
August 10, 2026Stokes would love to coach England in future
Ben Stokes says he would love to become England head coach in the future, as he expresses concerns about the toll captaincy could take on Joe Root.
August 4, 2026Root in 'very different place' over Test captaincy
England's Joe Root is ready to embrace his second stint as Test captain, saying he is in a "very different place" to when he stepped down from the role four years ago.
August 1, 2026Fleming new England Test coach with Root captain
Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming is appointed as England Test coach, with Joe Root as captain.
July 30, 2026Fleming expected to be named England Test coach
Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming is expected to be appointed as England Test coach after the sacking of Brendon McCullum.
July 29, 2026Returning Stokes hits ton as Durham beat Derbyshire
Ben Stokes marks his return to competitive cricket for the first time since retiring from Test matches with a stunning century to help Durham beat Derbyshire in the One-Day Cup.
July 21, 2026From the ride to the rubble - how McCullum lost England Test job
The Brendon McCullum era gave England a ride but it careered off the rails and the next Test coach has a huge rebuilding job on their hands.
July 12, 2026My commitment to England has never wavered - McCullum
After Brendon McCullum was sacked as head coach of the England Test side, BBC Sport looks back at his last interview, following their series defeat against New Zealand earlier this summer, in which McCullum said he wanted to carry on in the role, despite the retirement of Ben Stokes.
July 12, 2026The highs and lows of Bazball
BBC Sport looks at the highs and lows of Brendon McCullum's era as England Test head coach following his sacking.
July 12, 2026McCullum sacked as England Test head coach
England are now without a Test head coach and captain as Brendon McCullum leaves after four years in the role.
July 12, 2026England too good for India as Buttler hits 131
Jos Buttler's sublime 131 and Harry Brook's unbeaten 95 help England crush India in the fifth T20 and replace their opponents at the top of the world rankings.
July 11, 2026England advised to avoid alcohol around matches after off-field incidents
England men's players are advised to avoid drinking alcohol on the day before and the day after matches, under new behaviour guidelines.
July 10, 2026First England-India T20 abandoned because of rain
England’s attempt to move on from a dreadful start to the summer is hit by the weather as their first T20 against India is abandoned because of rain.
July 1, 2026Ex-Leicester defender smashes six and blows kiss to bowler on cricket debut
Just a day after resigning as Newport County head coach, Christian Fuchs blows a kiss to a bowler after hitting him for six while making his cricket debut for Derbyshire village side Grindleford.
June 30, 2026Stokes' England career ends with NZ series defeat
Ben Stokes’ storied England career ends in a series defeat by New Zealand, who wrap up the third and deciding Test on the final day in Nottingham.
June 29, 2026'There's so much people don't see' - Stokes on retirement decision
Following day four of England's third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, captain Ben Stokes explains his reasons for announcing his retiring, saying "the time was right" to leave international cricket.
June 28, 2026Retirement the best thing for me - Stokes
Ben Stokes describes the reasons for his international retirement as he says he became 'burned out' in the build-up to the summer.
June 28, 2026England heading for series defeat against NZ after chaotic day
England's cricketers are heading for a series defeat after a chaotic fourth day at Trent Bridge in the third Test against New Zealand, where the home side closed on 103-4, needing 270 runs to win and avoid a series defeat in Ben Stokes' last in charge, following his shock announcement that he'll be retiring from international cricket after the match.
June 28, 2026'I think he's had enough' - is it the right time for Stokes to step away?
Former England captains Michael Vaughan and Sir Alastair Cook discuss the potential reasons why Ben Stokes has chosen to retire, following the conclusion of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
June 28, 2026New Zealand back on top after fluctuating third day
England's series-deciding third Test against New Zealand swings in the favour of the visitors after a frustrating day for Ben Stokes' side.
June 27, 2026Stokes and Duckett star as England fight back against New Zealand
Ben Stokes takes three early wickets before Ben Duckett hits 113 with the bat as England fight back on day two of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
June 26, 2026Duckett & Stokes haul England back into third Test
Ben Duckett’s scintillating century builds on an inspirational spell from Ben Stokes to haul England back into the decisive third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
June 26, 2026'We'll see who's right' - Stokes and Santner clash over dismissal
Controversy on the second morning of the third Test between England and New Zealand after Mitchell Santner is given out after the ball appeared to hit his glove, but the batter was convinced that the ball had hit his arm guard after the delivery from Ben Stokes which was his 250th Test wicket.
June 26, 2026England strike late after huge NZ opening stand
England take two late wickets to hang in their decider against New Zealand on a brutal opening day of the third Test at Trent Bridge.
June 25, 2026'One brings two'...eventually - England finally strike with two late wickets
England finally pick up their first wickets of the third Test as Ben Stokes dismisses Tom Latham for 151, before Joe Root removes Devon Conway for 157 in the next over as New Zealand fall from 317-0 to 319-2 on the opening day at Trent Bridge.
June 25, 2026No hiding place as England again drink in last chance saloon
There no excuses now England have their captain back and their best XI available for series decider against New Zealand, writes Stephan Shemilt.
June 24, 2026Stokes apologises to team-mates before Test return
England captain Ben Stokes has apologised to his team-mates before his return for the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
June 24, 2026McCullum welcomes Stokes return as captain for third Test
England head coach Brendon McCullum says he is ready to work with returning captain Ben Stokes for the deciding Test against New Zealand.
June 21, 2026'Some people don't want Stokes to return as England captain' - Vaughan
Former England captain Michael Vaughan says he believes there are people within the ECB who don't want Ben Stokes to return as England captain and they've been briefing against him in the wake of the curfew incident that saw Stokes miss the second Test against New Zealand.
June 21, 2026'What happens next? You tell me!' - Root on England captaincy
Joe Root says he doesn't know what will happen next with the England captaincy having stepped in for Ben Stokes during England's 253-run defeat to New Zealand in the second Test.
June 21, 2026Stokes hits 95 for Durham while England struggle
Dropped England captain Ben Stokes makes 95 for Durham against Northamptonshire as the national side seemingly slip towards defeat by New Zealand in the second Test.
June 20, 2026England hit by Rew drops and Nicholls century
England’s parlous position in the second Test against New Zealand is compounded by drops from debutant wicketkeeper James Rew and a superb century by Henry Nicholls.
June 19, 2026England in trouble after dreadful day against NZ
England are in a dire position against New Zealand after spiralling from a chaotic morning on day two of the second Test at The Oval.
June 18, 2026Lord Botham criticises Stokes for breaking curfew
Lord Botham criticises England captain Ben Stokes for breaking a team curfew and says there is no way to "justify what happened".
June 18, 2026Dropped England captain Stokes to play for Durham
Ben Stokes will make his return to action for Durham after being named in their squad for the County Championship match against Northamptonshire on Friday.
June 18, 2026England make good start despite Stokes' absence
England attempt to move on from the Ben Stokes controversy with a solid opening day of the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval.
June 17, 202667 Pakistan players sign up for Hundred auction
Sixty-seven players from Pakistan are among those to have registered for next month's Hundred auction, though England Test captain Ben Stokes has not signed up.
February 20, 2026