Ben Stokes to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Stokes fans. Speculation had been rife that hero of England’s Cricket World Cup triumph is about to announce his retirement from sports, at age 35, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 21/07/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an athlete isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an athlete just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouBen

For a little while on Monday evening, #ThankYouBen was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Ben Stokes was unlike any other athlete we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouBen”
— @universalObserver, 20 Jul 2026

“Didn't Ben Stokes retire about 3 years ago?”
— @samy2love, 20 Jul 2026

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