Ben Stokes has openly declared that he would love nothing more than to take on a coaching role with the England cricket team in the future. In a candid interview on the "For The Love of Cricket" podcast – hosted by former teammates Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler – the 35‑year‑old former captain confirmed that his retirement from international cricket is permanent and outlined his longer‑term ambitions within the sport.
Stokes stepped down as England Test captain and announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket after the side suffered a 2‑1 series defeat to New Zealand in June. That loss followed a dismal 4‑1 Ashes defeat to Australia earlier in the season, marking a difficult end to his playing tenure.
During the podcast, Stokes reflected on the decision and his future plans, stating unequivocally, "I want to be a coach. I would absolutely love to coach England one day.
Whether it happens or not, I don’t know, but the idea of staying involved in a leadership capacity really appeals to me." He explained that his desire to coach stems from a genuine passion for the game and a wish to contribute to England’s success off the field. "I know what I want to do in terms of staying within the game – which is to be a coach. Would I love to be England’s head coach?
Absolutely. Do I think it will happen? I have no idea.
All I know is that I enjoy the concept of leadership without having to wear the whites on the field," he added. Stokes held the Test captaincy for four years, from 2022 until his retirement, working closely with head coach Brendon "Baz" McCullum to overhaul England’s playing philosophy.
Their partnership was credited with injecting a more aggressive, positive mindset into the side. However, McCullum’s own departure from the Test coaching role was announced just two weeks after Stokes announced his retirement, during the fourth day of England’s third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. When asked about the timing of McCullum’s exit, Stokes said he was surprised.
"If I hadn’t made the decision I made four weeks ago, Baz would still be coach. When I told Baz about my retirement, he was making toast and I just said, ‘I’m done.’ We’d already had conversations, but I told him over toast.
He replied, ‘Yeah, I’ve been given the tap on the shoulder,’ and I thought, ‘Okay.’ He’s still very excited about moving forward with the white‑ball game because he’s doing a great job there." Stokes also weighed in on the new direction for the Test side after former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was confirmed as England’s head coach and Joe Root was reappointed as captain. Stokes said he had spoken with Root when the announcement broke and expressed full confidence in his friend’s ability to lead the side again.
Yet he admitted a lingering concern for Root, recalling the heavy burden the role placed on England’s leading run‑scorer during his previous tenure. "I love Rooty. I wish him nothing but success.
I hope he achieves amazing things as captain, especially with Stephen Fleming as coach – he’s a great man, I’ve worked with him before. But I told Joe, ‘my only worry is you.’ I’ve seen what he went through last time, how much he put himself on the line.
He always put the team first, always came second. That’s my only concern – I don’t want to see him suffer again because I care for him a lot.
I’m sure he’ll do great and I’m excited to see what the team does moving forward," Stokes explained. A point that sparked particular interest was Stokes’s criticism of the decision not to promote Harry Brook, the current white‑ball captain and Test vice‑captain, to the full Test captaincy. England’s Managing Director of Men’s Cricket, Rob Key, recently said that the timing was not right for Brook but that his "time will come".
Stokes pushed back, arguing that leadership opportunities should be granted to those who are deemed ready. "If you think someone is going to be a good captain or a good leader, just give it to them. Brooky was made vice‑captain.
I’m not there anymore, but even when I missed that Test against New Zealand I thought, ‘Why isn’t Brooky captain? He’s vice‑captain.’ I understood the reasoning behind the decision, but I wondered what message that sent to him. He’s the vice‑captain and the captain isn’t playing, yet he’s not given the armband. When I took over I had no leadership experience; it was just assumed I would be a good captain," Stokes said.
Stokes also made it clear that a playing comeback for the upcoming home Ashes series is highly unlikely. When asked whether he might return, he responded firmly that he never intended to keep playing without the captaincy and that at 35, continuing as a player without leading the side would be difficult for him.
"I never once thought, ‘I’m just going to give it up and keep playing.’ I’m 35. If I’m not going to be captain, I think I’d find it tough to continue. Not because I’d struggle to be led, but because I’ve given so much of my career to leading. If I were to play for England again, it would be as captain.
I was very comfortable retiring from playing and not thinking about playing for England again," he affirmed. When pressed on whether his retirement was final, Stokes gave a succinct answer: "Defo." Stokes’s comments provide a window into the evolving landscape of England cricket. His desire to transition into coaching reflects a broader trend of former players seeking to shape the game from the sidelines. Meanwhile, his outspoken view on Brook’s captaincy prospects highlights the ongoing debate about succession planning and leadership development within the England set‑up.
The upcoming three‑Test series between England and Pakistan, scheduled to begin on August 19, will be the first major assignment for Stephen Fleming as head coach and Joe Root as captain. All matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available via NOW without a contract. Fans can also follow the latest England cricket news and insights through Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel and the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast. As the England team embarks on a new chapter under Fleming’s guidance, the insights shared by Stokes underscore both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Whether he eventually steps into a coaching role or continues to influence the game through mentorship, Stokes’s passion for cricket and his commitment to England’s success remain evident.