Ben Stokes

[David L]

The Trent Bridge test was yesterday given the added drama of the surprise announcement by England captain Ben Stokes that this would be his final game for his country. It seems to have taken everyone by surprise, including the man himself who was planning to continue until his very public volte-face in the middle of New Zealand's second innings. Incredibly, he took a wicket with his first ball after the news was made public.

No doubt about it, Stokes has been one of the best all-rounders England have ever had with a wonderful record with the bat and the ball. The head-scratching about the timing of his decision by the pundits has included speculation that he's had a falling out with his bosses at the ECB. I think this certainly has fed into his decision, although in interviews he's not insinuated this, only that he no longer enjoys his international cricket the way he used to.

The achilles heel of many of Britain's top sportsmen has been drink. This seems to have also played a major part in Stokes's career with a number of 'incidents' that have arisen whilst representing his country. His recent misdemeanour that found him in a nightclub, breaking a curfew, was bound to further fracture the trust that the ECB has placed in him. In his time as an England player, he's done his own share of reinforcing the notion that there is a 'drinking culture' within the team. What is it that attracts a married man of his age, with kids, to seedy little nightclubs?

It's a shame that the lure of indulging in 'lad culture' for a grown man may have tarnished a stellar career and prevented a great sportsman from the opportunity of becoming a role model. We have a history of producing this outcome, unfortunately.

[Nickslikk2112]

Gah he's respectable and sober compared to good old creekiters! I spat out my super-strength lager when I heard Ian Bottom have a go at him.

Bet he couldn't have got anywhere near David Boon's record of 52 Tinnies on the Australia-England flight.