Ben Stokes' Future in White-Ball Cricket Uncertain, Says England's Rob Key

Rob Key Discusses Ben Stokes' Cricketing Future

London [UK], April 11: In a recent discussion regarding star all-rounder Ben Stokes' prospects in white-ball cricket, Rob Key, the managing director of the England cricket team, expressed doubts about his immediate return to the format. Key emphasized that the current priority is on Test cricket and ensuring Stokes can fully resume his role as a pace-bowling all-rounder.

During a podcast shared by the Sky Sports Cricket X account, Key remarked, "I cannot see him playing in the immediate future. The focus for Ben is to work with our bowling coach, Neil Killeen, who has been helping him regain his bowling strength, starting at 75 percent capacity. That’s where our attention lies right now."

Key acknowledged that Harry Brook, the newly appointed captain for white-ball formats, is eager to have Stokes on the team. However, he stressed that Stokes must be in peak physical condition to contribute effectively.

"He hasn't played since the 2023 World Cup, from which he returned after retiring from ODIs in 2022. Our main goal for Ben is the upcoming Test against Zimbabwe starting May 22 at Trent Bridge, where he needs to be ready to fulfill his all-rounder responsibilities, not just as a captain but also as a key batsman and fourth bowler," Key added.

Looking ahead, Key mentioned the possibility of Stokes participating in the T20 World Cup scheduled in India and Sri Lanka next year, but he refrained from making any guarantees. "There’s a lot of cricket to be played before then. However, if players perform well and maintain their fitness, there’s always a chance for them to be included in the squad," he concluded.