Ben Stokes set to make return for Durham in One-Day Cup on Tuesday
Ben Stokes is set to play for the first time since retiring from international cricket by appearing for Durham at Derbyshire on Tuesday.
The former England captain will be part of the opening round of matches in the One-Day Cup – the day The Hundred begins.
Stokes announced an abrupt retirement from international cricket during England’s third Test against New Zealand last month.
Before that match, 35-year-old Stokes missed the second Test during an investigation into an incident in a London nightclub.
In his period away from the England team, the all-rounder played in Durham’s County Championship match against Northamptonshire.
Although Stokes said he had developed “negative feelings” around playing for England, he said his time back in county cricket rekindled his love for the game.
“Being back at Durham, when I wasn’t playing in the second Test, I found a new lease of life for the game, but unfortunately I just couldn’t get that feeling back,” said Stokes.
“I’m very excited about the next part of what I get to do. Going back to playing for my boyhood club Durham, I’m comparing this week to that week – right now I am buzzing.
“But there have been moments this week that have been really tough and it just adds to everything and it makes it clear that I’ve made the right decision.”
After playing in the One-Day Cup, Stokes could feature again in the Championship before the end of the season.
The timing of his return means a clash with the launch of the revamped version of The Hundred.
This season is the first since stakes in the eight franchises were sold to investors for about £520m, resulting in some new team names, branding and players earning more money.
Stokes did not enter the auction and was scheduled to play for Durham in the One-Day Cup before he announced his retirement.
Depending on the extent of his involvement, Stokes, perhaps the most high-profile cricketer in the country, could find himself playing at some intimate venues.
Durham have home games scheduled at South Northumberland Cricket Club in Gosforth and Darlington CC. Their away trip to Yorkshire is at York CC.
Stokes has not played any 50-over cricket since the 2023 World Cup, which was also his last limited-overs game for England.
The game at Derby will mark the first time Stokes has played a domestic one-day fixture for Durham in 12 years.
His most recent 50-over game for Durham was their victory over Warwickshire in the 2014 One-Day Cup final. Then aged 23, he made 164 in the semi-final win over Nottinghamshire.
Stokes’ last domestic 50-over cricket anywhere was a stint playing for Canterbury in New Zealand in 2017, during the period when he missed England’s Ashes tour of Australia following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub.
Since Stokes’ retirement from international cricket, Brendon McCullum has been sacked as England Test coach.
McCullum said he had received “nice messages” from Stokes since the announcement.