Ben Stokes has retired from international cricket | PC- AFP
A lot has been happening in English cricket since Ben Stokes retired from all forms of international cricket. The English head coach, Brendon McCullum, was removed from his position with the Test team.
Veteran batter Joe Root and former CSK coach Stephen Fleming are instated in the Test side as the Bazball era came to an end.
Ben Stokes takes blame for Brendon McCullum's exit
While talking on the For the Love of Cricket podcast about his former work wife, Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes spoke at length about the infamous exit from the English Test setup. The veteran all-rounder jokingly took the blame on himself for McCullum's removal by the ECB.
"I was surprised. If I hadn't made the decision that I made four weeks ago, Baz would still be coach. So it's my fault!" said Ben Stokes on the For the love of Cricket podcast by Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler.
Also Read: Ben Stokes Reveals Why He Suddenly Announced Test Retirement
"When I told Baz (about retirement), he was making toast, and | just went 'oh, I'm done'. I'd obviously had discussions with him anyway and then told him over."
Additionally, the recently retired cricketer, who is currently playing domestic cricket, revealed that he is pursuing level three coaching.
"I know what I want to do in terms of staying within the game - which is to be a coach. 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, 'd love to be able to have all that stuff signed off and done," Stokes added.
Ben Stokes speaks on Joe Root's appointement, Harry Brook's axing
Moreover, Ben Stokes also spoke about the ECB's decision to reinstate Joe Root as Test captain while axing Harry Brook, who was looking like the front-runner for the job after the all-rounder's exit.
"Brooky (Harry Brook) was made vice-captain, I'm not there anymore but even when I missed that [Oval] Test match I was like, 'he's vice-captain. I understood the reasoning why they were saying it, but what message is that sending to him. He's vice-captain, and the captain is not playing, but he's not captain and then the same again here," Stokes said.
Notably, under Root, England didn't fare too well in the longest format, resulting in Ben Stokes getting named the Test captain in 2022. That said, Brook has been heading the English white-ball formats at the moment.
Will Ben Stokes return to IPL?
The 35-year-old Ben Stokes, who retired from international cricket in June this year, is currently playing for Durham in the English One-Day Cup, sidelining the Hundred 2026.
Nonetheless, the star all-rounder started his campaign with a bang, scoring a century and a 51-ball 71* in the first two games, but he has been failing since then. In his most recent outing against Yorkshire, Stokes was bamboozled by India’s Kuldeep Yadav.
Talking about India, the legendary all-rounder has already hinted at his return to the IPL, after last featuring in the extravaganza league back in IPL 2023. Following his last stint, he kept his fitness and English cricket over a lucrative IPL contract, but he may return after all.
Also Read: India's Record In Away Tests Without Jasprit Bumrah Ahead Of Sri Lanka Tour 2026
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