Ben Stokes has opened up on the circumstances surrounding Brendon McCullum’s departure as England’s Test head coach, admitting that he believes his own retirement played a major role in the decision. Speaking on the For The Love of Cricket podcast alongside former teammates Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler, the former England skipper reflected on the events that unfolded following his decision to step away from Test cricket.
Stokes and McCullum transformed England’s approach to the longest format after joining forces, ushering in the aggressive “Bazball” era that revitalized the team. However, following England’s disappointing performances in recent months, including defeats in the Ashes and the home series against New Zealand, the ECB opted for a change in leadership, bringing an end to McCullum’s tenure as Test coach.
Ben Stokes says Brendon McCullum’s Test coaching exit was his fault
During the podcast, Stokes made a candid admission while discussing McCullum’s departure. The former England captain also recalled the moment he informed McCullum about his retirement, revealing that the conversation took place while the New Zealander was making breakfast.
“If I hadn’t made the decision that I made four weeks ago, Baz would still be coach. So it’s my fault. When I told Baz, he was making toast, and I just went, ‘Oh, I’m done’. I’d obviously had discussions with him anyway and then told him over toast. Then, again, he was like, ‘Yeah, I’ve been given the tap on the shoulder,’” Stokes said.
Despite losing the Test coaching role, Stokes explained that McCullum remains enthusiastic about continuing as England’s white-ball head coach and is fully committed to taking those teams forward.
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Ben Stokes reveals coaching ambition after retirement
Although he has stepped away from international cricket as a player, Stokes has already started preparing for the next chapter of his career. The 35-year-old revealed that he is currently completing his Level Three coaching qualification and hopes to remain involved in the game after retirement. Stokes admitted that coaching is his preferred career path and said he would love to become England’s head coach in the future.
“I know what I want to do in terms of staying within the game, which is to be a coach. I’m doing my level three coaching now while I’m still playing. When the day comes that I’m not playing any more, I’d love to have all that stuff signed off and done. Would I love to be coach of England one day? Absolutely. I would do a pretty good job at it because now I have an understanding of responsibility on the shoulders. I don’t actually mind making big decisions,” he concluded.
He also expressed confidence in his leadership abilities, adding that the experience of captaining England has prepared him for the responsibilities that come with coaching at the highest level.
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