Ben Stokes open to white-ball comeback as McCullum begins new England era
Ben Stokes has expressed openness to a potential return to white-ball cricket as England’s new coach, Brendon McCullum, embarks on his tenure. The England Test captain retired from ODI cricket in 2022, citing concerns over workload due to a busy international schedule. However, he reversed that decision to play in the 2023 World Cup. Notably, Stokes withdrew from the T20 World Cup in June to focus on recovering from knee surgery.
McCullum’s appointment marks a significant shift for England, aiming to revitalize their approach in white-ball cricket following a disappointing World Cup campaign. Stokes emphasized his desire to contribute to the team’s success, hinting at a collaborative strategy with McCullum to enhance performance across formats.
While speaking during the third ODI between England and Australia in Durham, Ben Stokes praised Brendon McCullum’s coaching style. Stokes added that the same coach for all three formats will benefit the team.
Stokes said, “It’s an amazing opportunity for the white-ball team to experience what Baz has brought to the Test team. He’s an incredible coach who speaks with utter commitment, and it’s nice to have all three teams now with the same messaging and the same philosophies towards playing cricket.”
“If I get the call and [Baz] says, ‘Do you want to come and play?’ Then obviously, it’s definitely going to be a yes, but I’m not going to be too disappointed if I don’t, because I can just sit back and watch everyone else go out and smack it,” he added.