Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has shared his perspective on the future of English cricket star Ben Stokes, suggesting it would be a "fairytale" if the all-rounder were to reverse his retirement in time for the 2027 Ashes series. The upcoming Ashes is scheduled to take place in England between June and August 2027.
Stokes concluded his Test career following a home series against New Zealand, which marked the first time England had lost a home series under the leadership of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. Speaking to the radio station SEN on Wednesday, July 29, McDonald noted that such a comeback would generate significant excitement for the series. "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 remarked. "If you're looking at promoting that series, that's probably the angle that you would want."
The decision to retire followed a period of turbulence for the England side. During the three-match series against New Zealand, Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson were suspended for the second Test after breaking a team curfew. The incident involved a late-night bar visit where a security team member was injured, though Stokes was not personally involved in the altercation. Despite apologizing to his teammates and returning for the final match, Stokes announced his retirement from the format immediately after that fixture. Subsequently, head coach Brendon McCullum, who had reportedly attempted to persuade Stokes to continue, was also stood down from his position.
Since stepping away from the Test arena, Stokes has continued to play List A cricket for Durham, notably scoring a swift century. McDonald remains convinced that Stokes still possesses the ability to perform at a high level. "To me, he's still got a lot of good cricket left in him," the Australian coach stated. He suggested that a new England head coach might be able to convince the player to reconsider his decision, noting that the exact reasons for his departure remain unclear. "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. There might be an opportunity for that new head coach to potentially twist his arm and bring him back in."
Regardless of whether a return materializes, McDonald expressed his admiration for the player's career. "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 concluded.
If that was not to be, the Aussie coach doffed his hat to stellar career that has had some incredible moments involving his team at the other end.
