'Utmost respect': Stephen Fleming reveals if Ben Stokes will reverse retirement decision and return to England team

'Utmost respect': Stephen Fleming reveals if Ben Stokes will reverse retirement decision and return to England team originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

New England Test coach Stephen Fleming said it would be "wrong" to try and convince Ben Stokes to reverse his retirement decision.

Fleming met Stokes at Durham and found him "at peace" with quitting.

The coach has no plans to get Stokes back for the 2027 Ashes.

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No fairytale U-turn! Stephen Fleming reveals if Ben Stokes will reverse retirement decision for next year's Ashes

New England Test coach Stephen Fleming made it clear he isn't going to be the one knocking on Ben Stokes' door to reverse his retirement decision ahead of the 2027 Ashes.

The Kiwi's first few days in the country included a trip to Durham to meet Stokes in person. Given that he'd previously worked with the 35-year-old at Chennai Super Kings and described their relationship as a good one, it was a natural early stop on his introductory tour of English cricket.

Stokes had been contributing with bat and ball for Durham, helping the county win the Division Two title, and was still clearly enjoying his cricket away from the international stage. He'd signed up for a Big Bash stint with Adelaide Strikers too, but Fleming painted a picture of a player who's made peace with his international retirement.

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"I went up to Durham and spoke to Ben, which was good. He's really happy and seemed to be really at peace with his decision," said Fleming.

"I've worked with Ben quite a bit. We've got a really good relationship. He was in a good space. He'd just bowled another 20 overs for Durham with success.

"He seems really happy and comfortable with what he's doing. My view is when a player decides to retire it's a big decision, and I have the utmost respect for that decision, so that's where it sits."

MORE: 'That's a medical condition': Stephen Fleming jokes about 'Flemball', reveals his approach with England Test team

Why Fleming won't push for a Stokes return to England setup

Fleming built his response to Stokes' retirement around respect for the decision rather than pragmatism about whether Stokes is fit enough to play at the highest level.

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The tactician did not shut the conversation down because he thinks Stokes can't do it, but because he thinks the decision deserves to be honoured.

"I respect his decision too much," he said later to BBC Sport's Test Match Special. "To try to turn that around and question that is wrong. I know how much goes into that type of decision, and I respect that."

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Stokes walked away earlier this summer after four years as England's Test captain. It was a tenure that was nothing short of transformative. The Bazball revolution, the comeback series wins, the back-to-back Test wins over Australia; all of it happened on his watch and with his aggressive personality shaping every aspect of how England played.

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However, the off-field controversy at the bar during the New Zealand series might have led him to take the ultimate call.

MORE: 'Can't see Sooryavanshi transitioning to Test cricket': Ex-England star gives honest opinion

Fleming's stance on Stokes is the right one, even if it's a difficult one

Rob Key might romanticise a Stokes comeback, and fans will keep dreaming about it; that's entirely understandable given what he meant to English cricket over four extraordinary years.

But Fleming's instinct here is the correct one. Retirement decisions are personal, costly and rarely made on impulse, particularly by someone as emotionally intelligent as Stokes. Going back to him now and asking him to reconsider, however indirectly, would put him in an unfair position and potentially undo the peace he's clearly found.

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The England team has capable, hungry players who deserve to carry the Test side forward. It is time to build around them, respect what Stokes gave, and leave the door open without actively pulling him back through it. And that's exactly what Fleming is doing.

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