Rob key hints at Ben Stokes taking over England’s struggling white-ball side despite his ongoing injuries

England’s white-ball team is in disarray, and Ben Stokes is now being considered as a potential saviour—despite his ongoing injury struggles. Managing director Rob Key has refused to rule out appointing the Test captain to lead the limited-overs side, calling him “one of the best captains” he’s ever seen.

The shake-up follows Jos Buttler’s resignation after a disastrous run that saw England crash out of the Champions Trophy, losing 10 of their last 11 matches. With the team in freefall, England now face the difficult task of finding a leader who can turn things around.

Stokes, 33, has not played white-ball cricket for England in over a year, having focused exclusively on Test matches due to persistent injuries. A severe hamstring issue, compounded by knee surgery, has kept him on the sidelines, raising concerns over whether he can handle the physical toll of additional captaincy responsibilities.

Yet Key is intrigued by the idea of Stokes taking white-ball captaincy of England, alongside Brendon McCullum, who already coaches across all formats.

“It would be stupid not to look at him,” Key admitted. “Ben Stokes is an outstanding leader, a brilliant tactician, and a man who can inspire a team.”

Handing Stokes the white-ball captaincy would be a bold—some might say reckless—decision. England have a packed schedule ahead, including a home Test series against India and a gruelling Ashes tour in Australia. Pushing their star all-rounder too hard could have dire consequences.

Key, however, is trying to focus on the positives.

“We always worry about what could go wrong, but what if it goes right?” he said. “Ben has a lot of energy for a lot of things.”

The urgency to find a strong leader stems from England’s shocking decline in limited-overs cricket. Once a dominant force, their batting line-up has “fallen off a cliff,” according to Key. He also admitted that some of the team’s public statements had bordered on delusional.

“When players speak after matches, they often say a lot of rubbish,” he said bluntly. “They’re trying not to upset teammates or give too much away, but sometimes they just create headlines.”

Stokes recently travelled to Abu Dhabi for rehab and coaching development, suggesting he is already looking at a future beyond playing. Whether that future includes leading England’s white-ball side remains to be seen.

Key insists he will take his time before deciding on white-ball captaincy of England. While vice-captain Harry Brook and others remain in contention, England’s urgent need for stability could make Stokes an irresistible choice.

For now, the only certainty is that England cricket is at a crossroads—and they can’t afford another wrong turn.