Stokes previously reversed his retirement from ODI cricket in 2022 to return for England’s unsuccessful title defence at the 2023 edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, though the star all-rounder recently suggested he would stick with his decision regardless of any future approaches from team management.
The fact England are on the lookout for a new Test coach following the recent departure of Stokes’ long-time confidant Brendon McCullum further clouds the situation, with McDonald suggesting he is keeping a close eye on proceedings ahead of the battle for the urn.
“To me, he (Stokes) has still got a lot of good cricket left in him. It’ll be a fascinating watch. I think that whoever the new head coach that comes in potentially has a conversation with him,” McDonald noted.
“We don’t know why Ben left, I don’t think there’s been anything on the record around the definitive reason as to why. He may have just called it a day on Test cricket and that’s it, so there might be a full stop there.
“Or there might be an opportunity for that new head coach to potentially twist his arm and bring him back in.
“But if it ends now, he’s had a wonderful career in terms of what he’s brought to the game, his impact in certain innings and moments in time. It will age pretty well for him to look back on.”
