Ben Stokes retires from Test cricket with a unique record, having batted in every position from opener to number eleven and taken wickets against batters in each spot.
What is the record?
Stokes is the only player in Test cricket history to achieve this feat, showcasing his ability to adapt to any situation on the field.
He joins Jacques Kallis as one of the only players with 7,000 runs and 250 wickets, a remarkable achievement in the sport.
Why did Ben Stokes retire?
In a video shared by the ECB, Stokes told his teammates that he had one more trip to make for his country before stepping away, citing mental and physical exhaustion as the reason for his retirement.
Stokes described a gradual accumulation of fatigue over several months, which was exacerbated by the Ashes preparation in Australia.
What's next for Ben Stokes?
Although he has retired from international cricket, Stokes is not completely stepping away from the sport, expressing excitement about playing for his boyhood club Durham.
He made his England debut in 2011 and went on to amass over 250 appearances across formats, with highlights including his unbeaten 84 in the 2019 ODI World Cup final against New Zealand.