Former England captain Ben Stokes has ruled out reversing his retirement to return for the 2027 Ashes, and says he would like to coach England one day after his playing career ends. The 35-year-old also said he was surprised England did not appoint Harry Brook as his Test captaincy successor and expressed concern for Joe Root taking on the role.
Stokes, who had been England's Test captain since 2022, announced his shock retirement from international cricket in June during the third and final Test against New Zealand. His departure came weeks after he missed England's second Test against the Kiwis following an incident in a London nightclub.
What did Stokes say about coaching?
Stokes said he is already working towards coaching qualifications and wants to remain involved in cricket in a leadership role after he stops playing. He was speaking on the For the Love of Cricket podcast.
“I'm doing my level three coaching now while I'm still playing, because I want, when the day comes that I'm not playing any more, I'd love to be able to have all that stuff signed off and done,”
“I know what I want to do in terms of staying within the game, which is to be a coach. And would I love to be coach of England one day? Absolutely.
“I just really like the idea of being, again, like, in some form of leadership away from playing.”
In the second source, Stokes went further on his post-playing plans, saying he wants the option of a break before moving into coaching and that he does not know whether an England job will happen.
“I’d love to be able to do that. Do I think it’s going to happen? I don’t know. No idea.”
He also rejected suggestions that he could return for the 2027 Ashes and said he had definitely retired from international cricket.
When asked by former team-mate Jos Buttler whether he had definitely retired, Stokes said:
“Definitely”
Why was Stokes surprised by England's captaincy decision?
Stokes said he had backed Harry Brook to succeed him as England Test captain and was surprised that the role instead went to Root.
England have since appointed Root as England Test captain instead of fellow batter Brook. Brook was promoted to Stokes' vice-captain in the Test side for last winter's Ashes tour, but he was involved in an off-field controversy in Wellington when he was struck by a bouncer the night before a white-ball game in New Zealand in November.
Root was given the Test captaincy for the second Test against New Zealand, which Stokes missed, and has now been given the role permanently. Stokes had backed Brook, who leads the white-ball sides, to succeed him in the role.
“I think just if you think someone's going to be a good captain or a good leader, then just give them it,”
“I understood the reasoning but I was still like, well, what message is that sending to him?
“He's vice-captain. And then the captain is not playing, but he's not captain. What?”
How does Stokes view Root's return as captain?
Stokes said he wants Root to succeed and believes he will enjoy working with England's new Test coach Stephen Fleming.
Stephen Fleming has been confirmed as the new coach of the men's Test team after Brendon McCullum stepped down, with Root returning for a second spell as captain. Stokes said he was happy to see his former team-mate back in the role.
“I wish him [Root] nothing but success. I hope he goes on and achieves amazing things in his role as captain and I think he's going to really enjoy it with Flem [Fleming]. He's a great man,”
His only concern, he said, was the toll the role could take on Root personally, based on what he experienced during his previous spell as captain.
“I've worked with Flem before but I told Joe, I said my only worry is just you. And that's all I really care about now, just because I have seen what he went through and how much he put himself through for someone.
“He's just always put the team first - he always comes second. And that's just my only concern with it, is just obviously knowing what he went through last time he was in charge of the team. I don't want to see that ever happen again because I care for Joe a lot, but I wish him all the success in the world.
“I'm sure he's going to do great. So I'm looking forward to seeing what the team does going forward.”
Root's first spell as Test captain was between 2017 and 2022 and he captained England to a record 27 Test wins in 65 matches. He will work with Fleming in the role.
Root stepped down from his first stint as skipper in April 2022, following a 10-wicket defeat by West Indies. At that time, England had won just one of their past 17 Tests, including a 4-0 Ashes humbling in Australia, while also navigating Covid restrictions - with Root saying the job
“took its toll”on his health.
England were beaten 2-1 by New Zealand, and that series defeat followed the 4-1 Ashes loss in Australia, meaning they have not won a Test series since late 2024.
Key Facts
- Stokes played 122 Tests, 114 one-day internationals and 43 T20s for England.
- He was England's Test captain from 2022 until his retirement from international cricket in June.
- Stokes has ruled out a return for the 2027 Ashes.
- England lost 2-1 to New Zealand and 4-1 in the Ashes in Australia.
- Joe Root captained England to 27 Test wins in 65 matches during his first spell from 2017 to 2022.
- Stephen Fleming is England's new Test coach.
