Key: Door Open for Stokes to Return for 2027 Ashes
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Rob Key said it "would be a brilliant story" if Ben Stokes returned from international retirement for the 2027 home Ashes against Australia, adding he "wouldn't be surprised" and that no bridge had been burnt in their relationship
- Ben Stokes, 35, stood down as England Test captain and retired from international cricket in June after a 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand, which followed a 4-1 Ashes loss to Australia over the winter
- Stokes had been made unavailable for the second Test against New Zealand after breaching a midnight curfew while celebrating England's win in the series opener
- Joe Root was reinstated as England Test captain on Thursday, with Stephen Fleming appointed head coach, succeeding the sacked Brendon McCullum
- Key reaffirmed his desire to stay on as managing director despite a turbulent summer that included seven defeats in England's last nine Test matches
- Key dismissed concerns over Fleming's lack of red-ball or international coaching experience, pointing to his 18 years at IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings since 2009
- England face Pakistan in a three-Test series starting August 19 at Headingley, followed by Tests at Lord's (August 27) and Edgbaston (September 9), all live on Sky Sports
Why it matters: England are formally resetting their Test leadership — Root reinstalled as captain, Fleming in as coach, Key surviving the summer's turmoil — while preserving the option of bringing back their star all-rounder for the marquee 2027 Ashes. With seven losses in nine Tests and over 1,000 wickets of bowling experience departed, Key's framing of a "refined" rather than changed approach underpins the entire rebuild.
