‘Better to be ex than never’: Ben Stokes hits back at Ian Botham | Cricket news

Ben Stokes responded brilliantly to criticism from England Ian Botham with a cheeky post on social media after announcing his retirement from international cricket.Stokes, who retired from international cricket during the Trent Bridge Test against New Zealand last month, was the subject of a light-hearted remark by Botham on the Test Match Special podcast. Reflecting on Stokes’ retirement, Botham joked that the England captain had now joined an exclusive club. “As we know Michael Vaughan & I. We don’t know what we’re talking about. A few old past times. “Ben, if you’re listening, congratulations, you’ve joined the club. You’re in the past now,” Botham said. Stokes quickly responded to X, citing a famous quote often attributed to Botham himself. “The quote ‘Better late than never’ comes from Lord Ian Botham,” Stokes announced.

Post by Ben Stokes

The exchange comes shortly after Botham publicly criticized Stokes following an incident in which England captain and fast bowler Gus Atkinson broke a midnight curfew while celebrating England’s first Test win against New Zealand. Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Botham questioned Stokes’ judgment and said he was disappointed by the episode, particularly given the support he had previously shown the all-rounder during difficult times in his career. “Some people just don’t learn, do they? It’s that simple. We as a club, when he had problems at Bristol, we stood by Ben Stokes and I stood by him as chairman, but I really don’t see how you can justify what happened after the game,” Botham said. Stokes retired as one of England’s greatest all-rounders, bringing the curtain down on a 15-year international career that included more than 250 appearances across formats and numerous memorable performances for his country.