Ben Stokes has made it clear that he would love nothing more than to take on a coaching role with England in the future, and he also hinted that Brendon McCullum would probably still be in charge of the Test side if Stokes had not announced his retirement from international cricket just weeks earlier. The 35‑year‑old relinquished the England Test captaincy and stepped away from the international arena after his team suffered a 2‑1 series loss to New Zealand in June, a defeat that followed a bruising 4‑1 Ashes loss to Australia over the preceding winter. In a candid, hour‑long interview on the "For The Love of Cricket" podcast – hosted by former teammates Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler – Stokes confirmed that his retirement was final and opened up about his longer‑term ambitions within the game.
"I want to be a coach," Stokes said without hesitation. "I know what I want to do after my playing days are over – I want to stay involved in cricket as a coach.
Would I love to coach England one day? Absolutely. It would be a dream to lead the national side from the sidelines. Will it happen?
I have no idea, but the idea excites me. Beyond that, I just enjoy the notion of being in a leadership position again, just not as a player." Stokes held the Test captaincy for four seasons, from 2022 until his retirement, working closely with head coach Brendon McCullum as the two men reshaped England's style of play. McCullum’s departure from the Test coaching role was announced only two weeks after Stokes announced his own exit, which came on the fourth day of England’s third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
When asked about the timing of the two exits, Stokes admitted he was surprised by the rapid succession. "If I hadn't made the decision I made four weeks ago, Baz would still be coach," he said, referring to McCullum. He recalled the informal way he broke the news to his former coach: "When I told Baz I was retiring, he was making toast and I just said, ‘I’m done.’ We’d already had some conversations, but I told him over that toast.
He replied, ‘Yeah, I’ve been given the tap on the shoulder too,’ and I thought, ‘Oh.’ He’s still very excited about the white‑ball game and is doing a great job there." Stokes also weighed in on the new era for the England Test side after former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming was appointed head coach and Joe Root was re‑appointed as captain. He said he had spoken with Root, his long‑time teammate and the man he succeeded as captain in 2022, when the news broke. Stokes expressed full support for Root’s second stint but also voiced a personal concern.
"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 and I’ve worked with him before. But my only worry is for Joe.
He put his shoulder to the wheel last time and it took a toll on him. He always put the team first and never put himself first. I don’t want to see him suffer again, so that’s my only concern." Beyond coaching ambitions, Stokes questioned the decision not to hand the Test captaincy to Harry Brook, the current vice‑captain and white‑ball captain.
England’s managing director for men’s cricket, Rob Key, recently said that now was not the right moment for Brook to take the Test role, but that his "time will come". Stokes disagreed, arguing that if a player is deemed capable of leadership, they should be given the chance. "Brooky is already vice‑captain. When I missed that Test against New Zealand, I thought, ‘Why isn’t Brooky the captain?
He’s the vice‑captain.’ I understood the reasoning behind the decision, but the message it sends to him is confusing – the captain is out, yet he remains vice‑captain. I had no leadership experience when I first took the job; it was just assumed I would be a good captain." Stokes also addressed speculation that he might return for the home Ashes series next summer. While Key suggested he wouldn’t be surprised if the all‑rounder came out of retirement, Stokes was unequivocal. "I never thought about giving it up and then coming back as a player," he said.
"I’m 35. If I’m not captain, I think it would be difficult for me to play. Not because I’d struggle to be led, but because I’ve given so much of my career to leading.
If I return, it would have to be as captain. I’m comfortable retiring and not thinking about playing for England again." When pressed on whether his retirement was definitive, Stokes answered with a confident "Defo" – short for definitely. In summary, Ben Stokes has laid out a clear roadmap for his post‑playing future: a strong desire to move into coaching, an openness to potentially lead England from the dugout, and a protective stance toward his former teammates, especially Joe Root. He also voiced a straightforward opinion on leadership succession, urging the board to give Harry Brook a chance when the time is right.
While his playing days appear firmly behind him, his influence on England cricket will likely continue, whether through mentorship, coaching, or outspoken advocacy for the next generation of leaders. All times UK and Ireland, all games live on Sky Sports. Watch the three‑Test series between England and Pakistan live on Sky Sports Cricket from August 19, or stream cricket and more sport contract‑free with NOW.