All the signs Ben Stokes will make a fairytale Ashes return

LORD’S — The fact Rob Key did not shut down the prospect of Ben Stokes returning to England’s team for next summer’s Ashes has left open the possibility of perhaps one of the greatest comeback stories the game has ever seen. But could it really happen? Interestingly, the answer is definitely not a flat no, certainly not after England’s director of cricket, speaking to the media at Lord’s on Friday, had his say on the subject. In the immediate aftermath of his shock international retirement at Trent Bridge at the end of June, Stokes was adamant he was “done” when asked if he might return to face Australia next year. “I’ve had a few questions asking whether I’ll be able to sit on my sofa watching,” he said. “I know it’s the Ashes but I’ll probably be watching it in a hospitality box somewhere.” Yet things have changed enough in the intervening month, with Brendon McCullum sacked as Test coach and replaced by his fellow New Zealander Stephen Fleming. Joe Root has also been announced as Stokes’ successor as captain. Might the fact Stokes played under former Chennai Super Kings coach Fleming at the Indian Premier League in 2023 count for something? Stephen Fleming is England’s new Test coach (Photo: Getty) Chennai spent £1.6m to land the all-rounder. He only made two appearances because of a knee injury yet the fee Fleming was happy for his team to spend on Stokes suggests he rates him highly – as surely any coach in the world would. When asked if Fleming, who was announced in his new job on Thursday, had mentioned about potentially giving Stokes a call, Key said: “We haven’t got around to that at the moment, but it’d be a great story.” Key insisted Stokes has made no contact with him about a possible return: “No, he hasn’t but I wouldn’t be surprised. Anything’s possible with Ben. It would be a brilliant story if he does.” No bridges had been burned either according to Key, despite Stokes’ dramatic mid-match announcement of his retirement during that third Test against New Zealand in Nottingham. That had come in the wake of significant off-field tensions between the pair after Stokes had been suspended for breaking the team curfew following the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s. “No, not at all,” Key said. “Not as far as I’m concerned.” It’s unlikely Stokes would return earlier even if Fleming and Key asked him to consider, say, this winter’s tour of South Africa given he has the prospect of a Christmas at home with his family ­– something of a rarity for England players these days. The optimal time for a dramatic comeback would be next summer, perhaps for the one-off Test against Bangladesh at Lord’s in late May – effectively England’s Ashes warm-up match. That would allow Stokes a solid block of county cricket for Durham at the start of the season to prove his form and fitness. What are the chances of a Stokes comeback? Ben Stokes has been playing for Durham this summer (Photo: PA) It’s not like Stokes hasn’t reverse-ferreted before on a retirement decision. Back in July 2022 he bid an emotional farewell to one-day international cricket at his home ground of Durham having announced the decision before the match against South Africa. Just 13 months later he made himself available again ahead of the 2023 World Cup in India. A year earlier, he had returned to England’s T20 set-up for the first time in 18 months and played the innings that won the final of the World Cup against Pakistan in Melbourne. The reason why Key stated anything is possible with Stokes is because past events dictate that only a fool would rule him out of coming back for one final Ashes series. Australia coach Andrew McDonald certainly thinks it’ll happen, saying earlier this week before Fleming’s appointment: “I think the fairytale would be he comes back and takes on one more Ashes and builds a lot of hype on the way in. “If you’re looking at promoting that series, that’s probably the angle you would want. To me, he has still got a lot of good cricket left in him. It’ll be a fascinating watch. I think whoever the new head coach that comes in potentially has a conversation with him. “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. He may have just called it a day and that’s it, so there might be a full stop there. “Or there might be an opportunity for that new head coach to potentially twist his arm and bring him back in.” The key to all this will probably be Root. Back for his second stint as Test captain having stood down in 2022, the Yorkshireman is extremely close with Stokes. The pair first played cricket against each other at Under-12s level and after Stokes announced his retirement, an emotional Root described their relationship as like “brothers”. If anybody can convince him to come back for the Ashes it’s Root. And given the bond between the pair, Stokes might just say yes if his “brother” told him he really needs his help next summer. Three other questions about England’s new era in Test cricket Rob Key faced the media on Friday (Photo: Getty) Why is Stephen Fleming not taking over as coach until the winter series against South Africa? Key insisted that the New Zealander had “life events” planned during the Pakistan series that starts next month, citing the quick recruitment process as to why he could not start immediately. Key confirmed Fleming is already in contact with captain Joe Root and interim coach Marcus Trescothick and will come to the UK in September to start planning for the winter. Read more Chris Stocks: England may as well hand the Ashes to Australia now Interview: Ollie Robinson: Bazball was so fun – but England need to win games Will Fleming have an English assistant? From what Key said, it appears likely Trescothick will remain in place as an assistant. But in terms of a younger English coach like Richard Dawson – who was in the running for the top job – coming on board as a permanent assistant, it seems unlikely. Why was Harry Brook overlooked for the captaincy? Put simply, Key didn’t think he was ready. “All of this happened a little bit too soon probably,” he said. “I think he’s still developing as a player and as a person, to be honest. at some stage, Harry Brook will be an outstanding Test captain of England. It just didn’t feel the time was right now.”