Ben Stokes urges teammates to work hard after retirement

England captain Ben Stokes, after announcing his retirement from international cricket during the ongoing decisive Test match against New Zealand, appealed to his teammates in his final emotional speech as captain to play one last time for the team.

In a video released by the England and Wales Cricket Board, Ben Stokes told the players in the dressing room that these are my last two days with you representing England and captaincy. The reasons for retirement will be discussed later, but at the moment my full focus is only on the team and the match.

He said that I have always spent all my energy for the team and now I will do the same for the last time. He told his teammates to put emotions aside until the end of the match and focus on presenting the best game on the field.

He said that I wish that at the end of the match I leave the field with the satisfaction that every member of the team tried their best until the last moment.

The English all-rounder added that emotional moments and farewell rituals related to retirement can also happen after the match, for now everyone's goal should be only the success of the team.

It should be noted that 35-year-old Ben Stokes will end his 16-year international cricket career at the end of the ongoing Test series against New Zealand.