England's Test skipper Ben Stokes recently expressed his eagerness to return to white-ball cricket under new coach Brendon McCullum. The former New Zealander is currently preparing to lead England's limited-overs teams, following his successful partnership with Stokes in the longest format of the game.
Stokes, who famously retired from ODI cricket in 2022 citing burnout concerns, now seems open to reconsidering his decision. Speaking during the third ODI at Chester-le-Street, Stokes opened up on playing under McCullum in white-ball and also spoke about his equation with the Kiwi.
"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. 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," Stokes told Sky Sports.
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I'm very happy with what I've achieved in that format: Ben Stokes
With the Champions Trophy 2025 approaching in February, England's selector Luke Wright recently hinted that both Stokes and Joe Root are in consideration for the white-ball squads. Stokes' exceptional record in limited-overs cricket, including match-winning performances in two World Cup finals, makes him a valuable asset to any team.
"I've played a lot of white-ball cricket for England, and I'm very happy with what I've achieved in that form of the game. But to be honest, we've not even spoken about anything like that whatsoever. I think he's just letting me concentrate on what I need to concentrate on, especially around the Test team," he added.
Despite his openness to a comeback, Stokes remains determined for the Test team's success. He praised the growth of new players in the white-ball setup, particularly mentioning Jacob Bethell as a future superstar.
The immediate focus for Stokes, however, is regaining full fitness for the upcoming Test series in Pakistan. Having missed the Sri Lanka series due to a hamstring tear, Stokes is optimistic about his recovery.
"I've got my six-and-a-half week scan tomorrow, so we'll know more from that, but I'm feeling really good. It was a hamstring tear that just sneaked into my tendon, so that's why it's taken a week or two longer, but my rehab has gone really well, so hopefully tomorrow everything gets the all-clear, and we can start pushing it a bit more," the southpaw concluded.
England's tour to Pakistan will begin with the first Test to begin on October 7 in Multan. The side will face challenges with pitch conditions and the potential for a more pace-friendly approach from the hosts.
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