Former England Test captain Ben Stokes returned to domestic cricket with Durham, scoring an unbeaten century to help them defeat Derbyshire in the first game of the 2026 One Day Cup. This was the left-hander’s first innings since retiring from international cricket toward the end of the New Zealand series.
Stokes hinted that he might continue to play domestic cricket for Durham following retirement, and he took the pitch at Derby’s County Ground on Tuesday, 21 July, in front of a small crowd.
Durham were assigned to bowl in the first innings, with Stokes bowling nine overs for his team and allowing only 38 runs. His batting performance, however, drew the most attention. Chasing 257, the former England captain walked out at number four with his team trailing at 24 for 2, having lost opener Alex Lees.
Stokes began his innings slowly, but he rapidly found his rhythm. The talismanic batsman eventually finished undefeated on 108 off 123 deliveries, helping his team to a five-wicket victory.
Hitting 10 fours and three sixes, including two against former England teammate Shoaib Bashir, the left-hander struck at 87.80 to complete the chase in the final over.
A historic century for Ben Stokes and Durham.
Stokes made his List A debut for Durham after representing the northern county in the 2014 One Day Cup final at Lord’s, which they won. The all-rounder was chosen Player of the Match after taking two wickets and being undefeated for 38 in a low-scoring match.
Stokes’ century against Derbyshire was his 10th in List A, and his first since hitting 108 off 84 balls against the Netherlands in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Nonetheless, it was the left-handed batter’s first List A century for Durham in nearly 12 years. He made his final hundred for the county against Nottinghamshire in August 2014, scoring 103 at Chester-le-Street.
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