The 1-to-11 freak show: The mind-blowing record Ben Stokes leaves behind after retirement that may never be broken
The 1-to-11 freak show: The mind-blowing record Ben Stokes leaves behind after retirement that may never be broken originally appeared on Cricket News.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Former England skipper Ben Stokes retires from Test cricket with a unique record to his name.
- Put down his bat after the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
- Stokes joins Jacques Kallis as the only players with 7,000 runs and 250 wickets.
The mind-boggling record Ben Stokes leaves behind in Test cricket
Ben Stokes walks away from international cricket with a statistical footnote so extraordinary it may never be replicated.
While the World Cup heroics and Ashes battles will dominate the tributes, this particular achievement tells you more about Stokes the cricketer than almost anything else.
Stokes is the only player in the history of Test cricket to have batted in every single position in the order, from opener all the way down to number eleven, while also having taken wickets against batters occupying each of those same eleven positions.
He is also widely believed to be the only fielder to have held catches off batters from every slot in the batting order, though that specific claim could not be independently confirmed.
However, what is beyond dispute is the broader picture it paints of a cricketer who could be called upon for anything, at any point in a match, and reliably deliver.
𝗕𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗸𝗲𝘀, who retired from intl cricket a few days ago, leaves behind one of the most unique records in Test history.
He remains the only player in Test cricket history to achieve all three of these
– Bat in all 11 batting positions
– Dismiss batters from all 11… pic.twitter.com/sDEaaZVhzs— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) July 2, 2026
Why did Ben Stokes retire from Test cricket?
In a video shared by the ECB, he told his teammates the “reasons could wait”, but that he had one more trip to the well to make for his country before stepping away was a telling choice of words.
However, speaking to Sky Sports after stumps on day four, Stokes gave a candid account of what had brought him to this point.
He said: “It’s been an interesting four-five weeks, and six months generally,” Stokes said. “Emotions when this day comes to everyone there’s relief, happiness, excitement, sadness everything you go through. All of those words I use there.”
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Stokes described a gradual accumulation of mental and physical exhaustion over several months, and the weight of the Ashes preparation in Australia had taken a toll that never truly lifted.
“I put so much time and effort into it, I maybe possibly burnt out,” he said, before admitting, “everyone says about the day [they resign the captaincy] what’s it like, they say it hits you in the face. And I thought a few weeks ago it did. I was putting pads on yesterday, getting ready to go out there, and that was the final nail in the coffin.”
One of England’s all-time greatest captains, Ben Stokes, has decided to retire from international cricket at the end of this Test match.
Ben, you have been the most inspirational captain, leader and legend this team could have ever hoped for.
We love you so much and wish you… pic.twitter.com/U5grq0F0kj
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 28, 2026
What’s next for Ben Stokes after retiring from international cricket?
Stokes made his England debut in 2011 and went on to amass more than 250 appearances across formats. The highlights are well-documented but bear repeating.
His unbeaten 84 in the 2019 ODI World Cup final against New Zealand helped England claim their first-ever world title in the format.
Although he might have hung up his international boots, Stokes is not completely stepping away from cricket.
“I am very excited about the next part, what I get to do going back to play for my boyhood club Durham really. I am comparing this week to last right now and buzzing because of it,” he revealed.
“There have been moments this week that have been really tough that just add to everything and make it in the back of your mind that you’re making the right decision.”
Harry Brook is expected to take over the reins from Stokes in the longest format of the game, but England will find it hard to find anyone remotely like him.
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