Days after Australia head coach Andrew McDonald talked up the idea of Ben Stokes’ potential return to the side for his final hurrah at next year’s Ashes, ECB’s managing director Robert Key said, ‘anything is possible’. Stokes hung up his cricket boots following a controversial ‘London nightclub’ episode midway through the home Test series against New Zealand this summer, shocking cricket fans worldwide. Even though McDonald feels that Stokes, 35, has plenty of cricket left in him, the former England captain decided against continuing for his national team. He, however, features for Durham in the County Championship.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2027-ben-stokes-fairytale-comeback-australia-coach-andrew-mcdonald-1785351828761">Ashes 2027: Australia coach Andrew McDonald sees 'fairytale' Ben Stokes comeback</a>&nbsp;"I think the fairytale would be that he comes back out of retirement and takes on one more Ashes and builds a lot of hype on the way in. So, if you're looking at promoting that series, that's probably the angle that you would want, that he comes out of retirement. &nbsp;"To me, he's still got a lot of good cricket left in him. So, yeah, 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. But he may have just called it a day on Test cricket, and that's it,” McDonald said of Stokes while speaking to SEN Radio.<h2>Stokes' Shocking Retirement and Future</h2>Meanwhile, midway through the fourth day of the deciding third Test at Trent Bridge, the ECB publicly announced Stokes’ decision to relinquish the Test captaincy and retire from international cricket. England’s Test hero said, ‘he didn’t have any fight left in him' upon confirming his retirement call at the end of the day’s play. Soon after, the ECB also sacked the Test head coach Brendon McCullum; they later appointed his compatriot and former CSK coach, Stephen Fleming, as his successor, while naming Joe Root as the new Test captain. &nbsp;Speaking on the changes in the leadership group and rumours around Stokes’ comeback for the 2027 Ashes at home, Key said, "It would be a brilliant story if he does. He hasn't [indicated a change of heart], but I wouldn't be surprised. Anything is possible with Ben." &nbsp;When asked about their relationship following Stokes’ manner of retirement, Key said, "No, not at all. Not as far as I'm concerned." &nbsp;Even though Stokes backed Harry Brook to succeed him as England’s next Test captain, which he feels is the ‘biggest job in cricket in England’, the ECB instead chose Root, who led England in 64 Tests from 2017 to 2022 before quitting. &nbsp;England’s next Test assignment is a home Test series against Pakistan, starting August 13. While Root will take over as the Test skipper, Fleming will settle into his new role later in the year, with former England opener Marcus Trescothick working as an interim coach in the meantime.&nbsp;

ECB managing director Rob Key has left the door open for Ben Stokes to make a sensational Ashes return, declaring "anything is possible" following the former captain's sudden Test retirement.

Days after Australia head coach Andrew McDonald talked up the idea of Ben Stokes’ potential return to the side for his final hurrah at next year’s Ashes, ECB’s managing director Robert Key said, ‘anything is possible’. Stokes hung up his cricket boots following a controversial ‘London nightclub’ episode midway through the home Test series against New Zealand this summer, shocking cricket fans worldwide. Even though McDonald feels that Stokes, 35, has plenty of cricket left in him, the former England captain decided against continuing for his national team. He, however, features for Durham in the County Championship. Also read| Ashes 2027: Australia coach Andrew McDonald sees 'fairytale' Ben Stokes comeback "I think the fairytale would be that he comes back out of retirement and takes on one more Ashes and builds a lot of hype on the way in. So, if you're looking at promoting that series, that's probably the angle that you would want, that he comes out of retirement. "To me, he's still got a lot of good cricket left in him. So, yeah, 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. But he may have just called it a day on Test cricket, and that's it,” McDonald said of Stokes while speaking to SEN Radio. Stokes' Shocking Retirement and Future Meanwhile, midway through the fourth day of the deciding third Test at Trent Bridge, the ECB publicly announced Stokes’ decision to relinquish the Test captaincy and retire from international cricket. England’s Test hero said, ‘he didn’t have any fight left in him' upon confirming his retirement call at the end of the day’s play. Soon after, the ECB also sacked the Test head coach Brendon McCullum; they later appointed his compatriot and former CSK coach, Stephen Fleming, as his successor, while naming Joe Root as the new Test captain. Speaking on the changes in the leadership group and rumours around Stokes’ comeback for the 2027 Ashes at home, Key said, "It would be a brilliant story if he does. He hasn't [indicated a change of heart], but I wouldn't be surprised. Anything is possible with Ben." When asked about their relationship following Stokes’ manner of retirement, Key said, "No, not at all. Not as far as I'm concerned." Even though Stokes backed Harry Brook to succeed him as England’s next Test captain, which he feels is the ‘biggest job in cricket in England’, the ECB instead chose Root, who led England in 64 Tests from 2017 to 2022 before quitting. England’s next Test assignment is a home Test series against Pakistan, starting August 13. While Root will take over as the Test skipper, Fleming will settle into his new role later in the year, with former England opener Marcus Trescothick working as an interim coach in the meantime.

ECB managing director Rob Key has left the door open for Ben Stokes to make a sensational Ashes return, declaring "anything is possible" following the former captain's sudden Test retirement.

'Anything is possible': ECB's Rob Key on Ben Stokes' potential Ashes return

Ben Stokes retired from international cricket following the last Test against New Zealand this summer. But the Australian head coach Andrew McDonald feels it would be a ‘fairytale’ for him to come out of retirement for the home Ashes next year. After the London nightclub incident that put Stokes and Gus Atkinson in a bad light, his relationship with the ECB broke, leading to his shock retirement from international cricket. McDonald, however, feels that, with the next Ashes less than a year away, Stokes could come back for his final hurrah in the whites.&nbsp;"I think the fairytale would be that he comes back out of retirement and takes on one more Ashes, and builds a lot of hype on the way in," Australia's coach said in a chat with the radio station SEN on Wednesday (July 29). "If you're looking at promoting that series, that's probably the angle that you would want, that he comes out of retirement."&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-first-cricket-franchise-cross-300-million-brand-value-ipl-2026-1785349675469">IPL 2026 champions RCB become first cricket franchise to cross $300M brand value</a> &nbsp;Stokes led England to a 115-run win over New Zealand in the series-opener at Lord’s, after which he and Atkinson went out partying in Chelsea. A brawl unfolded, leading to the ECB and the Cricket Regulator suspending the two involved ahead of the second Test, which England lost dearly, conceding the lead. While the two were asked to represent their respective County sides in the Championship, Joe Root led the Test team in Stokes’ absence. &nbsp;Following a detailed investigation into the matter, the two were let go with formal warnings and returned to the Test squad for the third and deciding Test at Trent Bridge. Midway through the fourth day of the final match, the ECB publicly announced Stokes’ shocking decision to relinquish the Test captaincy and hang up his boots from international cricket. &nbsp;Stokes enjoyed his last outing in the whites, having opened with Ben Duckett in England’s final innings of the match. He got out on a quickfire 30 late on day four as England lost the final Test on the fifth day to lose the home series 2-1. &nbsp;McDonald feels Stokes, 35, has plenty of cricket left in him, and hopes that the new coach holds that conversation with Stokes over a potential comeback to the Test side for the final home Ashes. &nbsp;"To me, he's still got a lot of good cricket left in him," McDonald opined. "It'll be a fascinating watch. I think that 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 on Test cricket, and that's it, so there might be a full stop there."

Australia coach Andrew McDonald believes a 'fairytale' Ben Stokes comeback for Ashes 2027 would be the ultimate storyline following his shock Test retirement.

Ben Stokes retired from international cricket following the last Test against New Zealand this summer. But the Australian head coach Andrew McDonald feels it would be a ‘fairytale’ for him to come out of retirement for the home Ashes next year. After the London nightclub incident that put Stokes and Gus Atkinson in a bad light, his relationship with the ECB broke, leading to his shock retirement from international cricket. McDonald, however, feels that, with the next Ashes less than a year away, Stokes could come back for his final hurrah in the whites. "I think the fairytale would be that he comes back out of retirement and takes on one more Ashes, and builds a lot of hype on the way in," Australia's coach said in a chat with the radio station SEN on Wednesday (July 29). "If you're looking at promoting that series, that's probably the angle that you would want, that he comes out of retirement." Also read| IPL 2026 champions RCB become first cricket franchise to cross $300M brand value Stokes led England to a 115-run win over New Zealand in the series-opener at Lord’s, after which he and Atkinson went out partying in Chelsea. A brawl unfolded, leading to the ECB and the Cricket Regulator suspending the two involved ahead of the second Test, which England lost dearly, conceding the lead. While the two were asked to represent their respective County sides in the Championship, Joe Root led the Test team in Stokes’ absence. Following a detailed investigation into the matter, the two were let go with formal warnings and returned to the Test squad for the third and deciding Test at Trent Bridge. Midway through the fourth day of the final match, the ECB publicly announced Stokes’ shocking decision to relinquish the Test captaincy and hang up his boots from international cricket. Stokes enjoyed his last outing in the whites, having opened with Ben Duckett in England’s final innings of the match. He got out on a quickfire 30 late on day four as England lost the final Test on the fifth day to lose the home series 2-1. McDonald feels Stokes, 35, has plenty of cricket left in him, and hopes that the new coach holds that conversation with Stokes over a potential comeback to the Test side for the final home Ashes. "To me, he's still got a lot of good cricket left in him," McDonald opined. "It'll be a fascinating watch. I think that 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 on Test cricket, and that's it, so there might be a full stop there."

Australia coach Andrew McDonald believes a 'fairytale' Ben Stokes comeback for Ashes 2027 would be the ultimate storyline following his shock Test retirement.

Ashes 2027: Australia coach Andrew McDonald sees 'fairytale' Ben Stokes comeback

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'Anything is possible': ECB's Rob Key on Ben Stokes' potential Ashes return

Ashes 2027: Australia coach Andrew McDonald sees 'fairytale' Ben Stokes comeback