Key open to Ben Stokes Ashes return, says ‘anything is possible’

By Rohan Gupta — 31 July 2026 — 3 min read

Stokes’ Potential Return and Leadership Changes

Rob Key, England’s director of men’s cricket, has indicated that a return to international cricket for Ben Stokes is a possibility, stating that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if it happened. Stokes, 35, retired from international cricket in June following England’s series defeat to New Zealand. Despite his retirement, Key mentioned that the door remains open for Stokes to potentially play in next summer’s home Ashes series against Australia, though he has not received any direct indication of Stokes’ intent to reverse his decision.

The former captain’s retirement decision came after he was unavailable for the second Test against New Zealand due to breaching a midnight curfew. Stokes was later found blameless for the incident but stated that the controversy contributed to his decision to end his England career. Key expressed that a return for Stokes “would be a brilliant story” and reiterated, “Anything’s possible with Ben.”

Following Stokes’ retirement, significant changes have occurred within the England setup. Brendon McCullum was replaced as Test coach by Stephen Fleming, and Joe Root succeeded Stokes as captain. Former England captain Michael Vaughan suggested that the appointments of Fleming and Root’s return as skipper might entice Stokes back into the England team.

New Coaching and Captaincy Era

The appointment of Stephen Fleming as the new Test head coach marks a new chapter for England cricket. Fleming, 53, has a successful coaching background, having led Chennai Super Kings to a record five Indian Premier League (IPL) titles over a 17-year tenure. While he has not previously served as a head coach for a national team, Key believes Fleming’s extensive experience with international players in franchise cricket makes him well-suited for the role.

Key highlighted that Fleming’s appointment is intended to help England develop a “world-class team” capable of sustained success and challenging teams like Australia. He noted that England has historically experienced periods of strong performance followed by declines, and the aim is to create a system that ensures consistent success. Fleming will not take charge of England’s Test series against Pakistan in August but will begin preparations for the Test tour of South Africa in December.

Joe Root’s return to captaincy was a decision made in consultation with Fleming. Root previously captained the team from 2017 to 2022 and holds several England Test records, including being their highest run-scorer with 14,114 runs. He is also the second-highest Test run-scorer of all time, behind Sachin Tendulkar. Key expressed enthusiasm for Root’s leadership, stating that he is “the best person to do it” and will work with “one of the most experienced coaches of international players.”

Refining the Approach and Future Outlook

Despite some criticism regarding the timing of McCullum’s sacking and Fleming’s delayed start, Key dismissed suggestions that England had wasted a summer of cricket. He asserted that England has appointed the “best two coaches going” and remains optimistic about the team’s future. Key emphasised that a “refined approach” is needed, rather than a complete change, building on the progress made under Stokes and McCullum.

The focus is on developing younger Test players and improving their skills, particularly in bowling, after the team lost a significant number of experienced cricketers. Key believes Fleming is the ideal person to help bowlers achieve consistency and realise their potential. Former England captain Michael Atherton echoed this sentiment, calling Fleming’s appointment the “best possible choice” given his experience and ability to work effectively with McCullum, who remains in charge of the white-ball side.

England recently became the number one ranked T20 side in the world after a 4-0 series win over India, showcasing the success of the white-ball project under Harry Brook and McCullum. The upcoming Test series against Pakistan will be broadcast live from August 19.

Source: bbc.com