Ben Stokes Returns to Durham After England Retirement; Reveals Why He Won't Play for England Again
Ben Stokes returns to Durham for the One-Day Cup after retiring from England cricket, saying he has rediscovered his love for the game.
July 16, 2026: Former England captain Ben Stokes is set to make his first appearance in the One-Day Cup since announcing his retirement from international cricket. The all-rounder will represent his boyhood club Durham against Derbyshire in the opening round of the competition on Tuesday, July 21. It will also be his first List A match since the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Stokes decided to return to domestic cricket to continue playing competitive matches and has also kept the door open for opportunities in overseas franchise leagues. Ahead of his return, the 35-year-old admitted that he has rediscovered his love for cricket but no longer has the same desire to represent England again.
"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. 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," Stokes told BBC.
Stokes to miss The Hundred but could play more matches for Durham
This will not be Stokes' first appearance for Durham this season. Earlier this year, he turned out for the county in the County Championship against Northamptonshire after missing England's second Test against New Zealand. That brief return helped him reconnect with the game away from the pressures of international cricket.
Stokes could feature in more County Championship matches before the end of the season. However, he will not take part in The Hundred, despite the tournament beginning on the same day as Durham's One-Day Cup campaign. The all-rounder opted out of The Hundred auction after deciding to focus on county cricket.
🚨 Ben Stokes will turn out for Durham against Derbeyshire in the opening round of the One-Day Cup starting on Tuesday, July 21.
After announcing his retirement, Stokes had revealed he would continue playing club level cricket in England and explore other opportunities around… pic.twitter.com/MO32qiQ0Ak
— Sportstar (@sportstarweb) July 15, 2026
The 2025 edition of The Hundred marks a new era for the competition after investors purchased stakes in all eight franchises in a deal worth more than ₹5,730 crore, bringing changes to team branding, franchise identities and player revenues.
Durham are also scheduled to play several matches at smaller venues during the One-Day Cup. The county will host games at South Northumberland Cricket Club in Gosforth and Darlington Cricket Club, while their fixture against Yorkshire will be played at York Cricket Club. Stokes' return is expected to attract significant attention as he begins the next chapter of his career with his boyhood club.
