England captain Ben Stokes tells his teammates and members of the England backroom staff about his intention to retire from international cricket on Sunday, according to multiple reports. Former England players say they are left “baffled” by the timing of the announcement, though the reasons given in the articles focus on when Stokes made the decision rather than disputing the decision itself. The reports consistently state that Stokes shares his plans directly with the squad and staff ahead of any wider public messaging. While the outlets differ in emphasis, they align on the core timeline: the communication happens on Sunday, and the reaction from England “legends” is primarily surprise at the point at which the announcement is made. None of the provided summaries offers detailed rationale or specific alternative dates, and the accounts do not attribute different motivations to Stokes. Overall, the coverage centers on Stokes’ decision to step away from international cricket and the perplexity among former players over when it is announced.