Ben Stokes’ retirement from international cricket in the third Test against New Zealand continues to dominate the headlines, with former England captain Michael Vaughan suggesting that a breakdown in trust between Stokes and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) could play a major role in the selection of players.Stokes has not spoken publicly since announcing his decision midway through the fourth day of England’s showdown at Trent Bridge, but he told his stunned team-mates before the game that “reasons can wait” in a dressing room address.Speaking on the BBC’s Test Match Special, Vaughan said he felt Stokes did not trust the people around him, including the ECB.“I just think about the last two weeks,” Vaughan said. “When you’re England captain, you have to trust those you’re working with. You have to trust everyone around you, the management, the ECB. “The former England captain made sure that he was not saying that his slump was the only reason for Stokes’ retirement, but he believed it was one of a number of factors that contributed.“I honestly think there’s been a lack of trust, and that affects you. I’m not saying that’s going to be the only reason why Ben Stokes went down, but all these things, the winter was very cold, there were incidents on the field and off.”Vaughan also commented on Stokes’ behavior before the opening Test at Lord’s, suggesting that the all-rounder did not look like his usual self. “Even in the preparation for the first Lord’s Test, he didn’t look good. He wasn’t quite the Ben Stokes from a few years ago. Then the incident happened, and apparently he had a problem with the ECB in the last week or so. This is a little bit of confidence that he may have lost in them,” Vaughan added.
An exhibition of the international work of Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes brought the curtain down on a 15-year international career as one of England’s greatest all-rounders. In 122 Tests, he scored 7,243 runs at an average of 34.49, including 14 years with a career best of 258, in which he also took 252 wickets. In 114 One-Day Internationals, Stokes scored 3,463 runs at an average of 41.23, with five centuries, and took 74 wickets, playing a key role in winning the World Cricket World Cup in England. He also represented England in 43 T20 Internationals, scoring 585 runs and taking 26 wickets, including an unbeaten 52 in the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup which sealed another ICC title.