Ben Stokes Rubbishes Ashes 2027 Comeback Reports
Ben Stokes has flatly rejected reports suggesting he could come out of international retirement to play for England in the 2027 Ashes, calling the speculation “completely misleading” and insisting there is “no truth” to the claims. The former England Test captain issued the denial on social media on October 21, 2026, after a report in the UK’s i Paper suggested he could be open to an “SOS call” from new skipper Joe Root ahead of the series against Australia.
Stokes: “No Truth to the Ashes Story”
Responding to the report on X, Stokes wrote: “Please don’t waste your £1 to read this…it’s a completely misleading headline and no truth to the Ashes story what so ever!”
The post went viral within hours, with fans backing the 35-year-old’s blunt dismissal of the rumour.
The i Paper report had claimed Stokes put forward two conditions for a possible return — that the circumstances suited him and that Root himself asked him to come back, given their close bond. Stokes retired from international cricket in June 2026 during England’s Test series against New Zealand, ending a career that included captaining the Test side since 2022. Root has since reassumed the captaincy, while Stephen Fleming has replaced Brendon McCullum as red-ball head coach.
County Cricket and Franchise Leagues Are His Focus
Far from plotting an international return, Stokes has mapped out a domestic and franchise-heavy schedule. He is committed to playing ten County Championship matches for Durham in the 2027-28 season — a commitment that means he will skip the 2027 IPL auction and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) because of schedule clashes. He has, however, signed with Adelaide Strikers for the Big Bash League starting December 12, 2026, and is keen on next year’s Major League Cricket (MLC) in the United States. The 2027 Ashes is scheduled to begin on June 19, 2027.
The denial follows a season of big ODI fireworks elsewhere: Harry Brook recently smashed the fastest ODI double century against England’s old rivals in Rawalpindi, while India sealed a record T20 chase in New Zealand — proof that England’s next generation is already being tested at the highest level.
Stokes remains a polarising figure in English cricket, but his message is now unambiguous: the Ashes SOS is a fiction, and his future lies in county whites and franchise colours.
Sources: Latestly, CricToday, Sports Wire Live (October 21–22, 2026); Ben Stokes’ official X account (@benstokes38).