Former Proteas batsman Daryl Cullinan commented on Ben Stokes' sudden exit from professional cricket, describing the end of his career as chaotic and sad.
The announcement of Stokes' unexpected retirement and that of the England team was made jointly with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) just before the last day of the Test series between England and New Zealand, which was taking place at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on June 29, 2026. The ECB officially confirmed this news shortly before the tea break on the fourth day of the match.
Afterward, Stokes received the honour of a parade of honour when he returned to the field after the break. The English captain then decided to bat at the opening position in his final Test match, scoring a quick 30 runs off 20 balls before his time on the field ended.
In a column for Cricinfo, Cullinan noted that the events surrounding Ben Stokes at Trent Bridge in June 2026 were a mess and a sadly disheartening moment. He added that while he is not intending to dissect every detail, there remains a feeling left by his departure. Cullinan concluded that the great modern cricketer, who gave unforgettable moments to English cricket, played his last match as a kind of 'up yours.'
This finale proved to be quite unusual, especially considering that Stokes had previously been involved in an off-field incident in early June. This incident, which involved a physical altercation after Stokes violated curfew, led an ECB security officer to demand stitches and prompt an investigation. Although Stokes was cleared in this matter, the episode added another controversial chapter to the history of the often-unstable all-rounder.
Earlier, in September 2017, Stokes was involved in a street fight near a nightclub in Bristol. During this incident, Stokes hit two men, one of whom lost consciousness. Although he was later found not guilty of the assault, the ECB subsequently found him guilty of damaging the reputation of the game.
