{"id":375047,"date":"2026-08-01T05:38:53","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T00:08:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=375047"},"modified":"2026-08-01T05:38:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T00:08:53","slug":"rob-key-would-not-be-surprised-if-ben-stokes-returned-to-england-test-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/08\/01\/rob-key-would-not-be-surprised-if-ben-stokes-returned-to-england-test-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Rob Key would \u2018not be surprised\u2019 if Ben Stokes returned to England Test team"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Rob Key has little question Stephen Fleming is the correct man to revive England\u2019s Test team and declared he \u201cwouldn\u2019t be surprised\u201d if Ben Stokes was tempted out of retirement to play a job.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As managing director of men\u2019s cricket on the England and Wales Cricket Board, Secret’s attempting to choose up the pieces of a turbulent summer that has seen former skipper Stokes walk away from international duty and Brendon McCullum axed as red-ball coach.<\/p>\n

Key\u2019s own position has come under heavy scrutiny but, having retained his job, he has identified former Recent Zealand captain Fleming and returning captain Joe Root because the partnership to bring stability and success back to a side that had clearly lost its way.<\/p>\n

McCullum stays a vital a part of the image on the helm of the white-ball team and lots still consider Stokes could re-enter the fray in time for next yr\u2019s Ashes campaign.<\/p>\n

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\"Stephen\"Stephen
NEW MAN: Stephen Fleming will take over as Test coach later this yr.
PICTURE: Nick Potts\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Great story<\/h2>\n

Speaking at Lord\u2019s to launch his latest vision for England, Key wouldn’t rule out a headline-grabbing return for the Durham all-rounder.<\/p>\n

Asked if Fleming had raised the concept, he said: \u201cWe haven\u2019t got round to that for the time being, but it surely can be an awesome story.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pressed by Sky Sports on whether Stokes himself had given any indication, a smiling Key added: \u201cNo, he hasn\u2019t but I wouldn\u2019t be surprised. Anything\u2019s possible with Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo (bridges have been burned)\u2026 under no circumstances. Not so far as I\u2019m concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Rob\"Rob
RETURN ON THE CARDS?: Rob Key (left) believes Ben Stokes could return to the England Test team.
PICTURE: David Davies\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Lack of preparation?<\/h2>\n

Fleming, 53, was a highly respected tactician and man manager during his long stint as Recent Zealand captain \u2013 during which period he forged a powerful bond with McCullum.<\/p>\n

That relationship could serve the ECB well as they try and avoid the tensions which have marred previous attempts to put in a split coaching regime \u2013 with Andy Flower and Ashley Giles failing to gel and Matthew Mott playing second fiddle to McCullum after they attempted a job share.<\/p>\n

There has, though, been consternation about Fleming not taking charge of the forthcoming series against Pakistan. <\/p>\n

Having just concluded a protracted stint in command of Chennai Super Kings he’ll take a break before arriving within the country in September, leaving him seven Tests and no home series before the Ashes.<\/p>\n

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WHITE BALL DUTY: Brendon McCullum will proceed to steer the limited-overs teams.
PICTURE: Gary Oakley\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Best person<\/h2>\n

Key was bullish on that, insisting: \u201cMy job is to get the perfect person. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t a stipulation for any of the candidates that you simply needed to be there for Pakistan. Had that been the case, that will have limited the sphere drastically.<\/p>\n

\u201cA month ago this was probably not on numerous people\u2019s radar \u2013 definitely myself and Stephen Fleming, as well. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn life, you might have numerous things that you might have to do, that you would be able to\u2019t do, which were planned a great distance upfront, which might be really essential for him as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn order that wasn\u2019t a stipulation that you simply needed to be in there, as I said, that will have narrowed the sphere considerably if it was.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Stephen and Joe, I feel we\u2019ve got the 2 best people to take what’s a side with an enormous amount of potential. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m as optimistic as ever that we\u2019ve got the perfect people to take English cricket forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

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HE\u2019S BACK: Joe Root returns for a second spell as England captain.
PICTURE: Ben Whitley\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Homegrown over overseas?<\/h2>\n

4 of England\u2019s last six Test coaches have been imported from overseas, Fleming following within the footsteps of McCullum, Trevor Bayliss and Andy Flower, in what appears an indictment over the domestic production line.<\/p>\n

Key accepted there had been slow progress on that rating but indicated latest opportunities for homegrown candidates to affix the setup may very well be imminent, with Glamorgan\u2019s Richard Dawson a number one contender.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not happened quick enough, but that\u2019s a large a part of what we\u2019re going to try to do going forward,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne in all the primary things Stephen spoke about was that. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe now have an obligation as well to bring coaches through, to upskill and to provide them experiences. It\u2019s an issue we\u2019re all trying to resolve, it\u2019s just not a fast fix.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile you go for jobs like this\u2026the remit is you get the perfect person possible and for my part, that\u2019s Stephen Fleming. <\/p>\n

\u201cNext time you don\u2019t want someone to go, \u2018Well, I actually have to appoint an English coach\u2019. What you would like is the English coaches to be top of that list.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/em><\/strong> Stephen Fleming named latest England Test head coach as Joe Root returns as captain<\/p>\n

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Rob Key has little question Stephen Fleming is the correct man to revive England\u2019s Test team and declared he \u201cwouldn\u2019t be surprised\u201d if Ben Stokes was tempted out of retirement to play a job. As managing director of men\u2019s cricket on the England and Wales Cricket Board, Secret’s attempting to choose up the pieces of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":375048,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20675],"tags":[5911,5386,1859,15588,11570,5385,8346,1008,4344],"class_list":["post-375047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cricket","tag-ben","tag-england","tag-key","tag-returned","tag-rob","tag-stokes","tag-surprised","tag-team","tag-test"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t