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England vs New Zealand third and final Test match has ended with the Kiwis handing the Three Lions a thumping defeat by 160 runs at Trent Bridge on Monday. Ben Stokes and his side lost a Test series at home for the first time since 2012, and this has been a concern for English cricket, as they have not won a series in the last three series they have played.
Ben Stokes stepped down as captain and also announced his retirement before the end of Day 5. He announced on Sunday that he will hang up his boots and will also step down from the leadership role post the conclusion of the third Test match.
Ben Stokes retires after nightclub controversy
The decision came after a nightclub controversy where he was involved in a physical altercation with a former Rugby Player. He, along with pace bowler Gus Atkinson, was suspended from playing the 2nd Test match after they breached the curfew rules. Both returned to the third Test match, but Stokes called it off his international career.
Many former cricketers and experts have shared their different views on the curfew breach and Ben Stokes’s retirement chaos. Now former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has his say on the protocol breach and about Stokes’ retirement.
"If you're the captain of an international team, you have responsibilities"- Ravichandran Ashwin slams Ben Stokes for being irresponsible
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin stated that there is no point in breaking a curfew or a rule. If there is a rule, the players must follow it. He also points out that the game of cricket has been corporatized, with PR agencies becoming a nightmare for the cricketers.
Ravichandran Ashwin said, "If there's a curfew, then there's a curfew. How are you going to handle it? These are not things you can ignore. You guys never had curfews, did you? We didn't either. Times were different. Have you ever seen anyone impose a curfew on Virat Kohli? It simply doesn't happen."
"The point is, if you're the captain of an international team, you have responsibilities. And let me make this clear—Ben Stokes has been a fabulous cricketer. He's retired now. This is not about me saying anything negative about Ben Stokes. That's not what this is."
"But these are official rules. They're corporate rules. Cricket has become a corporate sport now. For the ECB, this is a public relations nightmare. Just put yourself in the ECB's shoes for a minute. This is an absolute PR nightmare for them."
"They expect players to fulfill these responsibilities"- Ravichandran Ashwin on ECB's strong rules
Ravichandran Ashwin further pointed out on English cricket's domestic format, they have scouts and members from the County teams who follow the cricket very closely, and they expect the players to fulfill the responsibilities of playing the game properly.
"Every county has its members, and they follow cricket very closely. They expect players to fulfill these responsibilities. That's why these rules have been put in place. There have already been a couple of such incidents. And after the way England lost the Ashes in Australia, especially after the second Test."
"You have to change your path"- Ravichandran Ashwin on Ben Stokes not taking responsibility
Ravichandran Ashwin also stated that when cricketers are young, they do not have the responsibility of maintaining anything. They need to perform and party, enjoy the lifestyle, but as they grow, they need to become a responsible person, and as a captain, Ben Stokes should have had the responsibility.
"I'd say that when we're young and playing cricket, certain habits develop naturally. But on the journey to international cricket, there comes a point where you have to change your path. You have to grow from being a young cricketer into a responsible adult."
"This transition—from being a young cricketer with no major responsibilities or accountability, where your only job is to play well, perform, enjoy yourself, party, and have fun—is completely understandable. But at some stage, you have to evolve into a responsible adult. If you're the captain of an international team or even a senior player, that responsibility comes with the role."
