Ben Stokes open to extending his white-ball profession with England following McCullum appointment

England coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes forward of the third Take a look at Match between England and Sri Lanka
| Photograph Credit score: Getty Pictures

The England cricket nice Ben Stokes mentioned he could be open to enjoying once more for the ODI and T20 groups following the choice to place Brendon McCullum accountable for the limited-overs set-up in addition to the take a look at facet.

“If I get the decision saying, ‘Do you need to come and play?’ — it’s undoubtedly going to be a ‘sure,’” Stokes, England’s take a look at captain, mentioned in an interview with British broadcaster Sky Sports activities.

Stokes, who performed match-winning innings for England within the finals of the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022, got here out of ODI retirement to characteristic in final 12 months’s dismal World Cup protection. After knee surgical procedure over the winter, he opted out of the T20 World Cup in June — which noticed England attain the semifinals — to focus on his health.

England has launched a reboot of its white-ball groups to carry by the nation’s subsequent era and Stokes mentioned he could be comfortable to observe the children take heart stage if that is what McCullum most popular.

“This white-ball workforce has gone in a brand new course,” Stokes mentioned. “We’ve seen some unbelievable expertise come by — simply to level out one, Jacob Bethell, who I believe goes to be a famous person.

“I’ve performed numerous white-ball cricket for England, I’m very comfortable and content material with what I’ve achieved in that type of the sport. If I’m a part of the white-ball groups’ plans going ahead in any means, form or type then nice … However I’m not going to be too upset if I don’t as a result of it means somebody’s are available and doing very well. I can simply sit again and watch everybody else exit and smack it.”

Stokes has struck up a powerful relationship with McCullum within the take a look at set-up however mentioned he hasn’t but spoken to the New Zealander about extending his limited-overs profession. The main target as a substitute has been getting match for the upcoming take a look at tour of Pakistan.

“He’s simply letting me think about what I want to focus on, particularly across the take a look at workforce,” Stokes mentioned, “and when that point or dialog comes then we’ll see.

“It’s good,” he added, “to have all three groups now with the identical messages and the identical philosophies in direction of enjoying cricket, though they’re in numerous types.”