Former England Test captain Ben Stokes has reignited his public war of words with Sir Ian Botham following his retirement from international cricket. The latest exchange came after Botham sarcastically welcomed Stokes to the "has-beens" club during the first ODI between England and India at Edgbaston.
Stokes ended his 15-year international career after England's 2-1 home Test series defeat to New Zealand last month. Following his retirement from international cricket, the all-rounder has returned to Durham and resumed training ahead of their upcoming Metro Bank One-Day Cup match against Derbyshire.
You're Now a Has-Been - Ian Botham Revives Public Feud
Ian Botham revived his war of words with Ben Stokes while speaking on BBC's Test Match Special. Appearing alongside former England captain Michael Vaughan during a broadcast supporting the Bob Willis Trust, Botham welcomed the recently retired Stokes into what he called the "has-beens" club.
"As we know, Michael Vaughan and I… We don't know what we're talking about. A couple of old has-beens. Ben, if you're listening, congratulations, you've joined the club. You're now a has-been."
During England's Ashes tour of Australia in November last year, Stokes chose an intra-squad practice match at a local club ground instead of a traditional warm-up fixture. After former players criticized the decision, Stokes responded by saying modern teams could not prepare the same way as previous generations.
"There are quite a few factors that play into why we can't prepare the way the has-beens maybe did in the past."
Better to Be a Has-Been Than a Never-Been - Ben Stokes Hits Back at Ian Botham
Ben Stokes responded to Ian Botham's comments on social media platform X with a witty post. The former England captain is continuing the public exchange between two of England's greatest all-rounders.
"The quote 'It's better to be a has-been than a never-been' originates from Lord Ian Botham."
The quote "It's better to be a has-been than a never-been" originates from Lord Ian Botham. https://t.co/VbaWNg75Sv
— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) July 15, 2026
Stokes and Botham have regularly exchanged public remarks over the past year, with their relationship becoming increasingly strained after England's Ashes tour.
Earlier, Botham also criticized Stokes on the Stick to Cricket podcast over a late-night outing following England's victory at Lord's. Recalling his time as Durham chairman during the 2017 Bristol incident, Botham questioned Stokes' judgment and leadership.
"Some people just don't learn. When everything happened in Bristol, the club stood firmly behind him. I was chairman at the time, and everyone supported him. I struggle to understand what happened after the game at Lord's, especially when you were probably the person responsible for setting the midnight curfew."
Ian Botham and Ben Stokes Leave Lasting Legacies in England Cricket
Ian Botham is one of the greatest all-rounders in Test cricket history. He finished his career with 383 Test wickets and 14 centuries, with his performances in the 1981 Ashes series among the most famous in cricket history. Ben Stokes, meanwhile, built his reputation by delivering in some of England's biggest matches.
Stokes played key roles in England's 2019 ODI World Cup triumph and the unforgettable Headingley Ashes Test against Australia. He also transformed England's Test team as captain during the Bazball era, leading the side with an aggressive approach that changed their style of play.
With his international career now over, Stokes will turn his attention to county cricket. The former England captain is preparing to feature for Durham in the upcoming Metro Bank One-Day Cup, where he begins the next chapter of his playing career.
