Ben Stokes announces his retirement from international cricket during the fourth day’s play on Sunday, prompting reactions from former England players about the timing, according to multiple outlets. Reports say Stokes tells his England teammates and the team’s backroom staff of his intentions on Sunday, suggesting the decision is communicated internally before or around the time it becomes public. The Independent describes how the announcement happens during the fourth day of the match, while other coverage echoes that former England “legends” are left puzzled by when the news is made. While the sources focus on the timing and the reactions it draws, they consistently indicate that Stokes’s international retirement is announced while the Test is under way, rather than during the off-season or between series. There are no reported disagreements across the outlets on the core facts: the announcement occurs during Sunday’s play on the fourth day, and Stokes has already informed teammates and staff. The coverage centers on the surprise among former players and the circumstances of the announcement rather than on further details about his reasons.