Ben Stokes marked his return to county cricket in style, striking an unbeaten century to guide Durham to victory over Derbyshire in the opening fixture of the 2026 One Day Cup. It was his first innings in any format since stepping away from international cricket at the end of the New Zealand series, and it came in front of a modest crowd at Derby’s County Ground on Tuesday, July 21.

Match Snapshot

• Competition: One Day Cup 2026, opening match
• Teams: Derbyshire vs Durham
• Venue: County Ground, Derby
• Result: Durham won by five wickets
• Player of the Match performance: Ben Stokes — unbeaten 108, plus 1/38 from nine overs

Stokes’ Return: From International Retirement to County Colours

Stokes had already signalled his intention to keep playing for Durham even after ending his international career, and this match was the first proof of that commitment in action. It marked his first List A appearance for the county since the 2014 One Day Cup final at Lord’s — a match Durham won, with Stokes himself named Player of the Match for a two-wicket haul and an unbeaten 38 in a low-scoring game.

Twelve years on, the return to a Durham shirt in a List A fixture carried its own significance, both for the player and for a county side keen to have one of the world’s most recognisable all-rounders back in domestic colours.

The Innings: How the Century Unfolded

Set 257 to win, Durham lost opener Alex Lees early and slipped to 24 for 2 before Stokes walked in at number four. He took his time to settle, absorbing pressure rather than forcing the pace in the opening stages of his innings.

Once set, he shifted through the gears. His unbeaten 108 came off 123 balls, built around 10 fours and three sixes — two of them struck off former England teammate Shoaib Bashir. Durham chased down the target in the final over, with Stokes finishing the match unbeaten at a strike rate of 87.80.

The knock had the hallmarks familiar to Stokes-watchers: patience early, followed by calculated aggression when the situation demanded it, and composure in a run chase that went to the wire.

All-Round Impact: Bowling Figures and Match Contribution

Stokes wasn’t just a batting influence. Durham bowled first, and he sent down nine overs, conceding just 38 runs — tight figures that helped keep Derbyshire’s total within reach. Combined with his century, it was a complete all-round performance in his first game back.

A Historic Milestone for Stokes and Durham

This century carried extra weight in the context of Stokes’ List A career:

• It was his 10th List A century overall.
• His previous one came in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, an innings of 108 off 84 balls against the Netherlands.
• It was his first List A hundred for Durham in almost 12 years — his last came against Nottinghamshire in August 2014, a knock of 103 at Chester-le-Street.

The gap between those two Durham centuries underlines just how much of Stokes’ cricket over the past decade has been played on the international stage rather than in domestic colours — making this comeback innings a notable moment for the county’s supporters.

What This Means Going Forward

For Durham, having Stokes available for List A cricket adds significant batting depth and bowling options to their One Day Cup campaign. For Stokes himself, the innings offers an early answer to a question many will have been asking since his retirement: whether stepping back from international duty would mean stepping back from top-level cricket altogether. On this evidence, it clearly doesn’t.

It’s still one innings in a long domestic season, and it remains to be seen how much red-ball or white-ball cricket Stokes plays for Durham going forward. But as a first statement after retirement, an unbeaten century that sealed a chase in the final over is about as strong as it gets.

FAQ

When did Ben Stokes retire from international cricket?
He retired towards the end of the New Zealand series, shortly before this innings.

Is this Ben Stokes’ first match for Durham since retiring?
Yes — this was his first List A appearance for Durham since the 2014 One Day Cup final at Lord’s.

How many runs did Ben Stokes score in his comeback innings?
He finished unbeaten on 108 off 123 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes.

Did Ben Stokes contribute with the ball as well?
Yes, he bowled nine overs and took one wicket for 38 runs.

How many List A centuries has Ben Stokes scored?
This was his 10th List A century, and his first since 108 off 84 balls against the Netherlands in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

When was Stokes’ last List A century for Durham before this one?
His previous Durham century came against Nottinghamshire in August 2014, when he scored 103 at Chester-le-Street.