Ben Stokes, the captain of England’s Test cricket team, is currently recovering from a hamstring tear he sustained during The Hundred cricket tournament. Although the England Test team is comfortably leading 2-0 in the ongoing series, the spotlight is now shifting to the white-ball team, which has faced some challenges since failing to defend the T20 World Cup title.
In a significant change, Matthew Mott has stepped down as head coach of the white-ball side, and Brendon McCullum, who initially took up the red-ball coaching role, has now been appointed as the head coach across all formats for England. McCullum’s new role will officially kick off with the upcoming white-ball tour of India, followed by the Champions Trophy in February next year.
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As McCullum assumes his expanded responsibilities, there is growing speculation about whether Ben Stokes will be considered for selection for next year’s Champions Trophy. However, Stokes remains unconcerned about his potential inclusion in the shorter formats of the game.
“It’s hard to turn down those sort of big events, isn’t it?” said Stokes in an interview with The Telegraph. Despite expressing a willingness to participate, he also emphasized his satisfaction with his achievements in white-ball cricket, having won both the ODI World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022.
“If I didn’t play another white-ball game, I’ll be very content with how many games I’ve played and what I’ve been able to achieve,” Stokes mentioned. “I don’t know what the plan is going forward, whether they see me being a part of that or not. I’m sure there’ll be some conversation at some point about that. And I’ll be happy either way.”
Notably, Ben Stokes has not played a single white-ball match for England since the ODI World Cup held in India in 2023. He also missed the recent T20 World Cup hosted in the USA and the West Indies. While he may not be a fixture in the T20 format, Stokes is undeniably a valuable asset in the longer formats. His participation in the Champions Trophy would certainly strengthen England’s squad, but the final decision rests with Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key.
As the white-ball team gears up for its challenges, McCullum’s leadership is keenly anticipated. His strategy and decisions will significantly shape the future of England’s white-ball side, including whether Ben Stokes fits into those plans.
Stay with India Press Live for more updates on this developing story.