Ben Stokes has said he would "absolutely" love to coach England one day, and he added that Brendon McCullum would still be in charge of the Test team had he not announced his retirement weeks earlier. Stokes gave up the England Test captaincy following a 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand and a 4-1 Ashes loss. Speaking for the first time since retiring on the "For The Love Of Cricket" podcast, the 35‑year‑old confirmed he has retired for good and opened up on his longer‑term goals. He explained that coaching is the only role he sees for himself in the game, saying “I would love to be coach of England one day – absolutely.”

Stokes also reflected on the fallout from his exit. He admitted that if he hadn’t stepped down, McCullum would still be coach, and he joked that the decision was his fault. He praised Joe Root’s reappointment as captain and voiced concern for Root’s well‑being, while questioning why vice‑captain Harry Brook had not been named.

Finally, Stokes ruled out a 2027 Ashes return, saying he is 35 and would only play again as a captain. He remains firmly retired from playing.