Ben Stokes Hints ‘He Could Be Open To’ Become England’s New White-Ball Captain
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Stokes last played an ODI for England in the 2023 ODI World Cup, and his last T20I appearance was against Pakistan in the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Ben Stokes gives thumbs to take England’s white-ball captaincy. (Picture Credit: AFP)
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director Rob Key has hinted that star all-rounder and England’s Test captain Ben Stokes is interested in becoming the new captain of England’s white-ball teams. Jos Buttler, who succeeded 2019 ODI World Cup-winning team captain Eoin Morgan in 2022, stepped down from his role on February 28, and ahead of the start of the 2025-26 season, ECB is in search of his successor.
It was reported last week that Stokes, who played a big role in England’s 2019 ODI World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup win, is in the race to take charge of England’s white-ball captaincy as well, and now Key has confirmed his interest.
According to Key, who played 15 Tests, 5 ODIs, and one T20I for England during his seven-year-long international career, it would be “stupid” not to consider the Test skipper. He revealed he had made Stokes aware of the idea recently, which did not receive an initial knockback.
“I haven’t really spoken to him (Stokes) about it (white-ball captaincy), to be honest. I (just) sort of said to him the other day, (after) when I did the round table (interview) with the written journalists, and said (to Stokes), ‘Oh, by the way, I have just said you are in consideration for the white-ball gig,’” Key said on BBC Radio 5 Live on Monday night.
“And he sort of then puts the thumbs-up emoji and stuff like that, as if to say, ‘’ OK’—not that I have offered him that, but they are the sort of conversations that we have.”
Key, however, has stressed that there are other strong candidates as well for the white-ball captaincy, including Harry Brook. Book served as England’s white-ball captain in the home series against Australia in September 2024, and he was also named as Buttler’s deputy for the Champions Trophy 2025.
“I am going to think pretty hard, along with a few other people, over the next few weeks and try and work out what we think the best thing is,” Key said.
“I do think it’s interesting with Stokes and whether 50-over cricket is for him, but then he is out in Abu Dhabi at the moment, getting himself back fit, and there is obviously a risk with doing that. So there are a few things to try and decide, but I also don’t think it’s one to rush, really,” he added.
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