Former England Test match captain Ben Stokes has dropped a major hint as to why he resigned from the role during last weekend’s third Test with New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

The 35-year-old informed his teammates of his decision at the start of Sunday’s fourth day, but didn’t make the news public until 3:25pm, at which time he was in the middle of a marathon bowling spell towards the back end of the second session.

The timing of the announcement was no coincidence, with the release of a statement orchestrated to ensure that Stokes was at the centre of the action when his decision came out.

Ben Stokes Took A Wicket Moments After Announcing His International Retirement

In fairness to the man himself, he made the most of the stage, finding the edge of Zak Foulkes’ bat with his first ball after the news went public. Harry Brook took a fine catch at second slip to give Stokes a fairytale wicket.

The Durham man addressed some of the motivation behind his decision in a post-match interview with Sky Sports, where he blamed the demands of playing at the highest level for his decision to walk away from the international game.

However, many suspect that there is more to the story. Although Stokes was captain of the side for the third Test, he had been dropped for the second Test, along with teammate Gus Atkinson, after breaking a team curfew.

Andrew Boyers via Reuters

Stokes’ first social media statement on his retirement from international cricket included a suggestion that external pressure had played a major role in his decision.

The legendary all-rounder called his England career “a mad 15 years”, before making a telling admission, indicating that he may have resigned before bosses had the chance to sack him.

“My time was up, and no one was going to be able to make that decision other than me.”

Stokes’ decision-making during the final hours of his England career also suggested that he wanted to make a point to his bosses. In a curious call, the skipper decided to promote himself up the order to open in his final Test match innings.

With England looking to chase down 373 for an unlikely victory, Stokes blazed a quick-fire 30 off 20 balls in a cameo packed with risky shots as the hosts lost all chance of victory by chasing the game in kamikaze fashion.

As he walks away from the international game, Stokes has already named the man he wants to replace him at the helm of the Test team. Although he will no longer represent his country, he is expected to carve out a lucrative career for himself on the global T20 circuit.

Tottenham are dominating the summer transfer window, snapping up signings at every turn in a bid to transform their relegation-battling squad. The Spurs board finally look to have seen enough after back-to-back bottom-half finishes, and Roberto De Zerbi is likely to have demanded summer spending before accepting the job.

But even De Zerbi will be pleasantly surprised by how much Spurs have been willing to spend this summer, with a record spend already committed between the signings of Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.

But the spending will not end there, and it’s expected Tottenham want to sign both a winger and potentially a striker before the summer is out.

Tottenham distance themselves from Trafford links

via Reuters

With starting goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario expected to leave Tottenham to return to Italy this summer, there have been a couple of goalkeepers linked with a North London switch this summer. One of them is Manchester City’s James Trafford, who could be on the move just one year on from his £27million move from Burnley. Trafford looked to have signed as City’s new number one, but the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma changed all that, and the Englishman has barely had a look in, despite being described as ‘reliable’ by Pep Guardiola,

But according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge, Tottenham have no intention of going after Trafford this summer. He posted on X: “Very busy few days for Spurs & more to come. However, understand James Trafford is not a Tottenham target.”

Spurs are throwing their weight behind Kinsky

Part of the reason Spurs are likely not interested in a deal for Trafford is because they appear to be making Antonin Kinsky their number one, The youngster impressed at the back end of last season, when filling in for Vicario, and he has now been rewarded with a new contract this summer.

De Zerbi said upon the signing of the new deal: “Toni was outstanding over the final seven games of the season and a key part of what we achieved in that period. I am delighted he has committed his future to the Club. He has earned this new contract, not only with his performances but also his professionalism and desire to improve.

“We have huge belief in what Toni can become. He is still young, has enormous potential and I know that Spurs is the perfect place for him to continue to develop into one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.”

Those comments, and indeed the deal itself, are telling about Tottenham seeing Kisnky as their number one, and they have also signed Dubravka to compete from the number two spot.

Jamie Carragher has ruled Harry Kane out of the race for the Ballon d’Or and explained why the England skipper won’t win the prestigious award.

Kane is among the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or later this year after enjoying a phenomenal season at Bayern Munich. He found the back of the net an astonishing 61 times in 51 games across competitions while also providing seven assists.

The 32-year-old has carried that form into the World Cup with England, firing the Three Lions to the Round of 16. A brace in a 2-1 comeback win over DR Congo means the former Tottenham Hotspur striker sits on five goals in four games.

Carragher: Kane won’t win Ballon d’Or

Kane has been one of the World Cup’s best performers thus far and is rivalling Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi (both six) and Erling Haaland (five) in the Golden Boot race. His red-hot form has kept Thomas Tuchel’s side in the tournament but Carragher doesn’t expect them to go on and win it.

Carragher feels England will fall short, which will ultimately cost Kane a Ballon d’Or win. The Liverpool legend wrote in The Telegraph:

“If the vote for the Ballon d’Or was being held right now, Kane would be the worthy winner, his heroics for England against DR Congo absorbing his 72nd goal of this season. Only Lionel Messi has recently hit those kinds of numbers. Not even Cristiano Ronaldo was so prolific in one campaign.”

Carragher added: “Based on the past 12 months, Kane should win the Ballon d’Or. Unfortunately, he probably won’t because in a World Cup year, it is bound to go to the star player of the winning nation.”

France have been the team to beat thus far and Carragher named Mbappe and Michael Olise as contenders. He also reckons Messi might end up winning his ninth award:

“Much as I want to believe England can still win it, there is nothing to support that opinion, especially after recent performances. If Argentina retain the cup, Messi will win the Ballon d’Or. If France win the competition, one of their key men will get it. Kane’s Bayern team-mate Michael Olise is a strong contender.”

John Sibley via Action Images via Reuters

Carragher doesn’t think Mbappe‘s struggles with Real Madrid will prevent him from winning the award if he goes on to win the World Cup. He also tipped Ousmane Dembele to be in the running after enjoying “another fantastic season.”

Kane’s best Ballon d’Or finish came in 2024 when he finished fourth, missing out on a place on the podium. If he were to win the award, he’d become the first Englishman to do so since Michael Owen back in 2001.

Kane can win Ballon d’Or without World Cup glory

Hannah Mckay via Reuters

A Ballon d’Or win isn’t reliant on World Cup glory, and Messi became the first player to win the award as a world champion since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006. There are other factors taken into account, including club success, of which Kane fired Bayern to the Bundesliga title.

If Kane were to win the tournament’s Golden Boot, that could also work in his favour against Mbappe and Messi. Should he lift the trophy itself, he’d almost certainly seal a place among the top three or even claim the award.

England face Mexico in the Round of 16 on Monday (July 6th) at the Azteca, hoping to make the quarter-finals. Kane has saved his nation several times, including with a brilliant double in a comeback win against Congo.