Agnew: Ben Stoke's exit is unconvential for an English great

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Unconventional exit for an English great - AgnewImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ben Stokes has been England Test captain since 2022ByJonathan Agnew chief cricket commentatorPublished12 minutes agoBen Stokes has always been his own man. He's been rebellious in the past . He's never been conventional.

So his departure has not been conventional either. Everyone assumed he would lead England to the Ashes next year and that he would want to be an Ashes-winning captain. I wonder whether if he's watching it on TV next summer, his mind might just drift to what might have been.

The Details

I don't know whether he might regret this decision to retire from international cricket during the third Test against New Zealand one day. We really don't know what's gone on over the last few days, or few weeks. We know he didn't give any answer to the question of whether he felt supported by the England and Wales Cricket Board over what had happened regarding the London nightclub incident.

So whether he's going to say something about that when he gives his final news conference we will have to wait and see. There has been lots of talk about Stokes' future since he was made unavailable for the second Test at The Oval but I don't think anybody really, really thought he was going to give up as captain. I would think people are very surprised he chose to announce it in the middle of a game, with a series on the line - that's highly unusual.

He's chosen himself to go, but he seemed to be the least likely to go. He's very strong willed and that's his decision. At the start of the series, if you looked at the positions of director of cricket Rob Key, head coach Brendon McCullum and Stokes, the one who looked the least vulnerable and most likely to remain in post was Ben Stokes.

What Experts Say

Will Key and McCullum stay on? The same doubts remain. This was supposed to have been a reset.

They're supposed to have beaten New Zealand. There's been shenanigans off the field, discipline issues. The great reset hasn't really happened.

Had things progressed more smoothly, then perhaps they might have won the series and you'd be looking more positively towards the future, but that hasn't happened. I don't think just because Stokes has gone that it takes the heat off of anybody else. There are still question marks, particularly over Key's position, given it appears the details of the curfew were not made clear and that would be his job.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.