Australia Head Coach Andrew McDonald believes Ben Stokes‘ Test career may not be over, suggesting England’s search for a new Test Head Coach could yet provide an opportunity for the former England Captain to return for the 2027 Ashes.
Stokes announced his retirement from Test cricket during the third and final Test against New Zealand last month, bringing an end to his tenure as England Captain. His decision came amid a turbulent period for England, with Brendon McCullum also departing as Test Head Coach and the team now preparing for a new era under fresh leadership. Despite stepping away from the international game, Stokes has continued to impress in domestic cricket, producing unbeaten scores of 108 and 73 for Durham in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
Speaking to Australian radio station SEN, McDonald said the possibility of Stokes featuring in another Ashes series remained an intriguing prospect.
McDonald believes the Ashes could tempt Stokes back
McDonald believes few occasions would carry greater appeal than an Ashes series in England if Stokes were ever to reconsider his retirement.
“I think the fairytale would be that he comes back out of retirement and takes on one more Ashes and builds a lot of hype on the way in,” McDonald said.
He added: “If you’re looking at promoting that series, that’s probably the angle that you would want, that he comes out of retirement.”
England’s new Test Head Coach could shape the decision
England’s ongoing search for a new Test Head Coach has inevitably prompted discussion about how the next leadership group will shape the team’s future. McDonald believes Stokes still possesses the ability to compete at Test level and expects his successor to assess every available option as England rebuilds.
“To me, he (Stokes) has still got a lot of good cricket left in him. It’ll be a fascinating watch. I think that whoever the new head coach that comes in potentially has a conversation with him,” he continued.
McDonald also acknowledged that there has never been a definitive public explanation for Stokes’ retirement, leaving uncertainty over whether the decision is permanent.
“We don’t know why Ben left, I don’t think there’s been anything on the record around the definitive reason as to why. He may have just called it a day on Test cricket and that’s it, so there might be a full stop there.”
Equally, he believes the appointment of a new Test Head Coach could naturally lead to fresh conversations as England plans for the next Ashes campaign.
“Or there might be an opportunity for that new head coach to potentially twist his arm and bring him back in,” McDonald noted.
McDonald says Stokes’ legacy is already secure
While McDonald believes a return cannot be ruled out, he stressed that Stokes’ contribution to the Test game should be recognised regardless of whether he plays another international match.
“But if it ends now, he’s had a wonderful career in terms of what he’s brought to the game, his impact in certain innings and moments in time. It will age pretty well for him to look back on,” he said.
England’s 2027 Ashes series is scheduled to begin at Trent Bridge before continuing at Lord’s, Edgbaston, the Rose Bowl and The Oval. Whether Stokes is involved remains uncertain, but McDonald’s comments suggest Australia’s Head Coach believes the possibility of another Ashes appearance should not yet be dismissed.
