Ben Stokes did not inform Brendon McCullum of his departure until the last minute
A historic partnership that redefined English Test cricket ended suddenly and quietly, leaving head coach Brendon McCullum completely blindsided. According to The Guardian, Ben Stokes decided to inform his coach about his international retirement as the very last.
While Stokes briefed his vice-captain Harry Brook and his close friend and predecessor Joe Root on Saturday night in advance, McCullum was left out entirely. The coach didn’t find out until Sunday morning, just minutes before the rest of the playing staff did. Although McCullum tried desperately to talk his talismanic captain into a late turn, he was firmly locked in a remarkably brief interview.
Stokes shocked the cricket world by announcing his retirement from international cricket in the middle of the final Test of the series against New Zealand. The decision came just weeks after he was recalled for a second test for breaching disciplinary guidelines following a night at a nightclub, before returning to lead England in the series finale.
McCullum later revealed the details of the frantic Sunday morning exchange and admitted he believed there was still room for negotiation.
“He grabbed me when we got to the ground and said, ‘Bazi, I’m done,'” McCullum recalled.
“I just said, ‘Slow down, you don’t have to make any rash decisions now, let’s talk about it.’
He said: “Honestly, I’m done.” I felt he was very definitive in his thought process, whereas I didn’t have it in my head at that stage, so I thought there was still room for negotiation. It wasn’t.”
The optics of the coach being the last to know inevitably fueled talk of a strained relationship, but Stokes was quick to distance himself from the team’s managerial future. When asked whether McCullum and ECB chief executive Rob Key should continue in their roles to lead the transition after Stokes’ transition, the 35-year-old stepped away from the board.
“We’ve had some incredible highs and we’ve had some pretty low lows, but I feel like we’ve always connected pretty well,” Stokes said. “I’m done now. I don’t have to make those decisions, I don’t have to be involved in all those things. But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my four-and-a-half-year working relationship with Brendon and Rob.”
IS THE ASH BACK NEXT YEAR?
As Stokes intends to continue playing domestic cricket, participating in the County Championship and various global T20 leagues, there has already been speculation about a possible return to international cricket if necessary.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan was among those who suggested Stokes could be persuaded to return to the home Ashes series next summer, especially if there is a change in the coaching set-up. It’s a familiar scenario as Stokes famously reversed his ODI retirement in 2023 to play the World Cup in India.
However, in an interview with the BBC, the all-rounder insisted that this departure is permanent.
“I’m incredibly happy with everything right now,” Stokes said.
“It’s a decision I don’t take lightly. It took a lot of time. I’m done. I’m very happy. I accept that people can ask questions. But at the end of the day, it’s a decision I made. I hope people respect that. I understand people may be scratching their heads and asking why… but I’m making this decision because I feel it’s the best for me.”
Ben Stokes ended his international career firmly alongside Jacques Kallis as one of only two players in Test history to surpass the exclusive double of 7,000 runs and 250 wickets. A certified match-winner whose impact always went beyond bare figures, he played 122 Test matches, amassing 7,273 runs at an average of 34.47 and hitting 14 centuries, taking 252 wickets at 30.99.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
30 Jun 2026 15:42 IST