Ben Stokes: Retirement video allegedly broke anti-corruption rules

However, as reported by the BBC, this has resulted in the ECB being contacted in writing by the International Cricket Council about the video, which alleges that publishing the footage during play contravenes its standards for players’ and match officials’ areas (PMOA) at international matches.

Article 2.2.11 of the PMOA minimum standards states governing bodies should “ensure that there are no fixed or temporary video cameras or other recording equipment set up within any dressing room used by the teams for the purposes of broadcasting video or audio footage”.

The PMOA exists to support the anti-corruption code.

The ECB received the letter at the weekend, and the BBC report stated: “The global governing body had also previously informed the ECB any footage shot in the PMOA must not carry audio or be released before the conclusion of a match.”

The ECB declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Telegraph. It is not expected to be punished by the ICC.

Stokes explained later that evening that he had left his management team – former England players Neil Fairbrother and Michael Lumb – to work with the ECB on how his retirement was announced. In a remarkable twist, he took a wicket with the first ball after the news was shared. He later opened the batting, scoring 30 as England fell to defeat.

In his speech to his teammates, Stokes said: “There’s something I know is going to happen over the next two days, which is going to be [that] this is my last two days as your captain, and my last two days as representing England.

“Reasons can wait [as to] why. But I’ve had many trips to the well before for this team, for you blokes, for people beforehand and I’ve got one more trip to do. The only thing that I ask, please, is can everyone else please just do the same?

“We’ve got a lot of hard work still to do, and the only thing that I want is to be able to walk off the end of that field, regardless of the result, knowing that I’ve had this group of men – and one lady [Sarah Taylor, the fielding coach] – give everything for the last two days.

“The only thing I want is just for everyone to give it, not only for me, selfishly, but also for this team and everything else that we’ve got going forward for you blokes. All the taps on the arse, all the emotion, all that kind of stuff, please can it just wait until the end of this game? Because we’ve still got a s***load more work to do, and I’ve got a s***load more work to do that I want to do.

“Let’s just go out there and f***ing give absolutely everything for another two days, alright? Because that’s my only intention and that’s where all my energy is right now. Got the emotional side out of it, but now it’s time to work. And everyone else, please just come with me.”

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