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Ben Stokes

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Ben Stokes' future is hanging in the balance.

Ben Stokes has lost his power struggle with McCullum and Key

Ben Stokes’ captaincy might be over, but England are not good enough to leave him behind as a player, and they have no clear successor.

  • Nick Hoult

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Ben Stokes has been dropped for England’s second Test against New Zealand next week.

Ben Stokes dropped after nightclub incident as Joe Root named captain

Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been dropped by England for their second test against New Zealand while investigations continue into an incident at a nightclub.

  • Steve Douglas
England cricket captain Ben Stokes.

Inside the nightclub incident that could cost Ben Stokes his job as England captain

Ben Stokes swore off alcohol last year and appeared to have put his disciplinary issues behind him. Now his captaincy, and indeed Test career, hang by a thread.

  • Nick Hoult, Will Macpherson and Charles Richardson
Mitchell Starc in full flight during the fifth Ashes Test in January.

Cricket bible honours Mitchell Starc, lashes England team for Ashes capitulation

The esteemed cricketing journal described England as “feckless, reckless and legless” on its bumbling Ashes tour to Australia.

  • Glenn Moore
The architects of Bazball: England coach Brendan McCullum, left, with Ben Stokes.

Stokes backs McCullum in X-rated rant after coach keeps his job

ECB boss Richard Gould said dumping coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key would have been the “easy” decison.

  • Will Macpherson
England’s three key leaders: Director of cricket Rob Key, coach Brendon McCullum, and captain Ben Stokes.

‘Bazball’ failed spectacularly in the Ashes. But one key architect appears safe

There are already some signs of cultural and coaching changes being put in place by England after their disastrous Ashes rout.

  • Will Macpherson and Tom Morgan
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McCullum

England will not change until this arrogant regime is dismissed

The self-styled three wise men of English cricket – Brendon McCullum, Rob Key and Ben Stokes – turned out to be the Three Stooges. It’s time to move on from their reign of error.

  • Geoffrey Boycott
England captain Ben Stokes (centre) congratulates Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja after the final day of the 2025-26 Ashes series.

England never recovered from Perth, and neither did this Ashes series

It’s been a dizzying series in many ways, comprising some moments of champagne cricket but many more of poor stuff that spoke to England’s ramshackle preparation for the task and Australia’s numerous vulnerabilities.

  • Daniel Brettig
Ben Stokes finishes the Ashes a beaten, and injured, man.

Loyalty over common sense: Stokes’ decision-making contributed to England’s woe

After contributing scores of nought and one in Sydney, there is the prospect of having to recover once more from a significant injury.

  • Oliver Brown
England coach Brendon McCullum (right) with skipper Ben Stokes.

Brendon McCullum to be given ultimatum about England team culture

Brendon McCullum’s hopes of remaining England head coach rest on whether he is willing to accept an ultimatum of making major changes to the team’s environment and culture.

  • Will Macpherson and Nick Hoult