Story perspectives

Fleming Won’t Ask Stokes to Reverse Retirement

By Drooid · Sep 20, 2026, 10:36 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Stephen Fleming said he will not ask Ben Stokes to reverse his retirement.
He aims to lift England from sixth to number-one in rankings and improve its World Test Championship position.
Fleming noted off-field incidents with Stokes, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse demand disciplinary work.
He will start coaching on 17 December against South Africa, blending Bazball positivity with added “cricket sense”.

History

Historical Context

In 2005 England, led by captain Michael Vaughan and coach Duncan Fletcher, ended an 18-year Ashes drought by winning the five-match series 2-1, the first triumph since the 1986-87 tour. Now former New Zealand boss Stephen Fleming has hired former England all-rounder Ben Stokes as coach, hoping to replicate Fletcher’s turnaround and push England toward the ICC top spot.

1 of 2

Story summary

Stephen Fleming said he will not ask Ben Stokes to reverse his retirement.
He aims to lift England from sixth to number-one in rankings and improve its World Test Championship position.
Fleming noted off-field incidents with Stokes, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse demand disciplinary work.
He will start coaching on 17 December against South Africa, blending Bazball positivity with added “cricket sense”.

1 / 2