When Stokes was away from the England team for the second Test, he played for Durham and said returning to his county rekindled a love for the game. He confirmed he will continue to play domestic cricket.
“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 this week,” said Stokes.
“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 said he made the retirement decision when he was putting on his pads to prepare to bat in England’s first innings at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
He told former captain Joe Root and vice-captain Harry Brook on Saturday evening, then revealed the news to the rest of the team on Sunday morning.
“It’s been an interesting four or five weeks, maybe six months in general,” added Stokes. “There are all kinds of emotions when this day comes – relief, happiness, excitement, sadness. Everything that you go through.
“It’s the best thing that I’ve ever been asked to do, captaining England. It is the greatest honour to have on your shoulders but there is also another side to it that people don’t see, only those closest to you see it.
“My family, my wife, they see the bits where it does drain you and it does affect you negatively.”