Ben Stokes has no regrets about England retirement call: 'I'm done'

Ben Stokes insists he has no regrets about calling time on his 15-year England cricket career, saying: “I’m done.”

Stokes shocked the world of cricket on Sunday by announcing in the middle of the third test against New Zealand in Nottingham that it was his last international.

His final day in an England jersey came on Monday, when New Zealand completed a 160-run victory to win the series 2-1 — with Stokes watching the final hours from the balcony outside England's dressing room.

A day after his announcement, Stokes was asked by the BBC if he was going to be happy watching from the sofa when England takes on Australia in next year’s home Ashes series.

“I am incredibly content with everything right now,” Stokes said. “It’s a decision that you don’t take lightly. It has taken a lot of time. I’ve spoken to a lot of people close to me.

“I’m done, mate, and I’m very happy.”

Stokes’ decision to retire came at the end of a whirlwind few weeks in which he led England to victory in the first test at Lord’s, then went on a night out with a teammate and was present in a nightclub when a member of England’s security team was reportedly struck by a rugby player from English club Saracens.

Stokes was dropped for the second test for breaching contractual obligations, and returned for the third test following the conclusion of investigations into the night out.

He described the recent events as “unfortunate” and “interesting," and acknowledged they “maybe” contributed to his decision to quit international cricket.

“But there’s an overriding fact that over the last 6-12 months I think everything that I’ve done over a long period of time has taken its toll,” Stokes said.

“Being in this role as captain — as good as it is, as exciting as it is, how big an honor it is — there’s some negative effects to doing it. I guess that’s the unfortunate side that people don’t always get to see.”

He backed his deputy Harry Brook as the next captain. Brook was already the white-ball skipper.

“You are asked to be vice-captain for a reason and I was vice-captain under Joe (Root) for a long time,” Stokes said. “It's the natural progression: If the captain is not there, you step up. You don't ask someone to be vice-captain if you don't think he's got the skills and ability to captain the team.”

Stokes has been a defining player for England over the past 15 years, playing a key role in the team's World Cup title wins in the 50-over and T20 formats and captaining the test team since 2022 in the so-called Bazball era that changed the way the game's longest and oldest format was played.

He also attracted headlines off the field, for his fight with mental health problems and when he was found not guilty of affray in 2018 following a late-night street brawl in Bristol, southwest England, after a victory over the West Indies in an international match.

“I can probably look back on the week and have a bit of a laugh that there was a bit of controversy around my last game for England,” Stokes said, "but I guess you could relate that to me as a player throughout.

"I'm a little bit hit and miss sometimes, here and there, and obviously something pretty simple ended up being a bit complicated.

Stokes' departure leaves the remaining two people in England's leadership team — coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key — in the firing line.

The series against New Zealand was supposed to be a reset after losing the Ashes 4-1 in Australia, where questions were raised about the professionalism of England's players amid concerns about a drinking culture.

For many, the late-night incident involving Stokes after the Lord's test suggested lessons haven't been learned — is there, for example, a curfew in operation? — while England has lost seven of its last nine test matches, a sign the team is in decline.

McCullum, who said he tried to talk Stokes out of retiring, said he wanted to carry on himself, four years after taking the job as coach of the test team. He is also now coach of the white-ball teams.

“My commitment to English cricket has never wavered,” McCullum said. “I firmly believe in the direction that we can get this team to take.”

However, former England captain Michael Vaughan said he'd be “absolutely staggered” if the leadership group stayed in place.

“There must be change," Vaughan told the BBC, "after what we’ve seen here in terms of a cricketing sense now over a period of time.”

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

England's Ben Stokes batting on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

England's Ben Stokes walks off after being caught by New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

England's Ben Stokes walks off after being caught by New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell on day four of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

England's Ben Stokes walks in dejection as they lose the series against New Zealand on day five of the Third Cricket Test at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham, England, Monday June 29, 2026. (Jacob King/PA via AP)

England's Ben Stokes smiles prior to the start of day five of the Third Test cricket match, in Nottingham, England, Monday, June 29, 2026. (Jacob King/PA via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Monday it will consider a Republican push to enforce strict Arizona voting laws passed in the swing state after the 2020 election.

The high court has allowed some similar rules to take effect as lawsuits play out, including Arizona's proof-of-citizenship requirement for state and local elections and a Virginia purge of voter rolls that the state said was aimed at keeping noncitizens from voting.

The appeal was filed by the Republican National Committee after lower courts found the measures violated federal voting laws, and it was joined by GOP President Donald Trump’s administration.

“The RNC is proud to lead this effort, and we will keep fighting nationwide to defend election integrity and ensure only eligible citizens cast a ballot,” said Chairman Joe Gruters.

The high court is expected to hear arguments in the fall and likely hand down an opinion after the midterm elections.

The Republican-controlled legislature passed the laws in 2022, part of a wave of similar proposals around the country after Trump falsely claimed widespread voter fraud was responsible for his narrow defeat there to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump reclaimed the state in 2024, helping secure his return to the White House.

One measure requires people to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote using a state form. Another calls for regular purges of the voter rolls to remove people if their citizenship could not be confirmed, including within 90 days of an election.

The case reached the Supreme Court's emergency docket in 2024. The justices gave the GOP a partial victory, allowing Arizona to require proof of citizenship for registration in state and local elections but not federal races.

Also that year, the high court allowed Virginia to continue a purge of voter rolls shortly before the election.

Citizenship is required to vote across the country, and people must attest they are citizens under penalty of perjury to register. Arizona is among only a handful of states that require additional proof, like a driver's license or passport. Data indicates that voting by noncitizens is rare.

Arizona tried to impose proof requirements for national elections in 2013, but the law was struck down by the Supreme Court. Now, people can register as “federal only” voters without providing proof of citizenship, but Arizona requires additional proof for state and local election participation.

Just over 19,000 people were registered as active federal-only voters in 2023.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court.

FILE - Members of the Arizona State University Barrett Choir wave Arizona state flags during the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Arizona's statehood, Feb. 14, 2012, in Phoenix.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

FILE - The U.S. Supreme Court is seen, June 5, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)