Ben Stokes: Former England captain confirms ambition to coach side in future and has say on Brendon McCullum Test exit, captaincy calls | Cricket News

Ben Stokes has said he would “absolutely” love to coach England one day, as he also suggested Brendon McCullum would still be in charge of the Test team had he not announced his own international retirement weeks beforehand.

Stokes gave up the England Test captaincy and retired from international cricket following his side’s 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand in June, which followed a 4-1 Ashes loss to Australia over the winter.

Speaking at length for the first time since his retirement on the For The Love of Cricket podcast hosted by former team-mates Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler, the 35-year-old Stokes suggested he had ‘definitely’ retired for good and opened up on his longer-term goals.

“I want to be a coach,” said Stokes.

“I know what I want to do in terms of staying within the game – which is to be a coach.

“Would I love to be coach of England one day? Absolutely. I would love to be able to do that. Do I think it’s going to happen? I don’t know. No idea.

“Then, further on from that, I don’t know. I just really like the idea of being, again, in some form of leadership away from playing.”

Stokes held the Test captaincy for four years from 2022, working alongside head coach McCullum as the pair reshaped England’s playing style.

McCullum’s exit from his Test role was announced two weeks after Stokes called time on his international playing career during the fourth day of England’s third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

“I was [surprised],” said Stokes.

“If I hadn’t made the decision that I made four weeks ago, Baz would still be coach.

“So it’s my fault!”

On the discussions held between them around their respective exits, Stokes added: “When I told Baz [about Stokes’ retirement] he was making toast and I just went ‘oh, I’m done’. I’d obviously had discussions with him anyway and then told him over toast.

“Then, again, he was like ‘yeah, I’ve been given the tap on the shoulder’ and I was like ‘oh’. But he’s still very excited and very happy to be moving forward with the white-ball because he’s doing a very good job there.”

Stokes on his ‘concern’ for Root over captaincy return and Brook snub

Stokes also had his say on the new era for the Test team after former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was confirmed as the side’s new head coach and Joe Root reappointed captain.

Stokes said he spoke with Root, his long-time team-mate and predecessor as captain in 2017-2022, when the news broke and backed him to succeed in his second spell in the role. However, Stokes said he did have “concern” for his friend given how the role hung heavily on England’s highest run-scorer last time.

“I love Rooty. I wish him nothing but success,” said Stokes.

“I hope he goes on to achieve amazing things in his role of captain, and I think he’s going to really enjoy it with Flem. He’s a great man. I’ve worked with Flem before.

“But I told Joe: ‘my only worry is you’. And that’s all I really care about now with Rooty just because I saw what he went through and how much he put himself through.

“He just always put the team first; he always came second. That is just my only concern with it: knowing what he went through last time he was in charge of the team because 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.”

But Stokes did question why Harry Brook, the vice-captain of the Test team and the white-ball captain, had not been named as his replacement.

Rob Key, England men’s managing director, said recently “I don’t feel like this is the right time” for Brook to be named Test captain but that the 27-year-old’s “time will come”.

But Stokes argued: “If you think someone is going to be a good captain or a good leader, just give it to them.

“Brooky [was] made vice-captain. I’m not there anymore but even when I missed that Test match [against New Zealand] I was like ‘why is Brooky not captain? He’s vice-captain.’

“And I understood the reasoning why they were saying it, but I was still like, what message is that sending to him? He’s vice-captain and the captain is not playing but he’s not captain. Then the same again here.

“I had no leadership or captaincy experience when I took over. It was just thought I was going to be a good captain.”

Stokes rules out 2027 Ashes return

The 35-year-old also appeared to firmly rule out any playing return in next summer’s home Ashes series against Australia after Key said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the all-rounder came out of retirement.

“I never once thought, ‘I’m just going to give it up and just keep going as a player’,” said Stokes of his decision to retire as captain and player.

“I’m 35. If I’m not going to be captain, I think I’d find it tough to do it. Not saying because I’d find it tough to be led by someone else. I just think because I’ve given so much of this part of my career to my job, if I’m going to be play for England it’s going to be as captain.

“I was very comfortable retiring from playing and not thinking about playing for England.”

And asked squarely if he had “definitely” retired, Stokes replied: “Defo.”

England vs Pakistan Test series schedule

All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports

• First Test (Headingley) – Wednesday August 19-Sunday August 23 (11am)
• Second Test (Lord’s) – Thursday August 27-Monday August 31 (11am)
• Third Test (Edgbaston) – Wednesday September 9-Sunday September 13 (11am)

Watch the three-Test series between England and Pakistan live on Sky Sports Cricket from August 19. Stream cricket and more sport contract-free with NOW.