Ben Stokes says he is feeling 'chilled right now' after retiring from international cricket, speaking openly in a two-hour podcast with his former England teammates Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler. The all-rounder, who stepped down five weeks ago, sounded at peace with his decision, insisting he is 'definitely' retired and ruling out a return for the 2027 Ashes.
Stokes on captaincy and Ashes defeat
Stokes admitted he put 'way too much' on his own shoulders as England captain, rather than delegating to others. He also acknowledged the team could have communicated better during the 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia last winter, particularly after losing a commanding position in the Perth opener.
Despite the criticism, he defended the team's approach, saying everyone was on the same page and there was no tactical divergence from Brendon McCullum. He would repeat the mid-tour break in Noosa, which had drawn headlines about the team's off-field activities.
Concerns for Joe Root
Stokes expressed concerns about Joe Root's return as Test captain, recalling the 'unhealthy relationship' Root had with the job at the end of his first spell. 'He just always puts the team first and he always comes second,' said Stokes. 'That's my only concern with it, knowing what he went through last time. Because I don't want to see that ever happen again. I care for Joe a lot.'
Stokes felt Harry Brook should have been promoted from vice-captain, and questioned the message sent when Brook did not step up during Stokes' suspension against New Zealand.
Disquiet over ECB handling
Stokes sidestepped questions about the curfew breach after the Lord's Test, but hinted at other factors behind his retirement. 'I'm not going to lie and say that there might have been some other things that contributed to the decision,' he said. 'But I'm not here today to go into all that detail. I think there's a time and a place for that.'
He added: 'I don't want to come across as bitter towards anyone yet. Cause I'm chilled right now.' The word 'yet' was telling, as Stokes cited a desire not to damage the England team.
Retirement reasons and future plans
Stokes said the chief driver for retirement was over-thinking and over-training during the five-month gap after Australia, leaving him far from Test-ready. He also noted that McCullum might still be the Test head coach had he not retired, though his reasoning was not explored.
Stokes praised new coach Stephen Fleming as a 'great man', having worked with him at Chennai Super Kings. He also expressed ambition to coach England one day.
