Australia coach says Ben Stokes could return for 2027 Ashes

Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald has suggested that former England captain Ben Stokes could be persuaded to come out of international retirement to play in the 2027 Ashes series in England. Stokes, a star all-rounder, announced his retirement from all international cricket on June 28, 2026, during the fourth day of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

McDonald, speaking on Australian radio station SEN, said he had no inside information but would not be surprised if Stokes reversed his decision. "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," McDonald said. He added that such a comeback would be ideal for promoting the storied rivalry, noting that Stokes still has a lot of good cricket left in him.

Stokes's retirement followed England's series loss to New Zealand last month and ended a decade-long international career during which he was instrumental in England's 2019 ODI World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup victories. He has since returned to domestic cricket, playing for Durham in England's 50-over competition. While Stokes has recently indicated he would stand by his...