London: Former England captain Ben Stokes has revealed that he hopes to coach the England cricket team after bringing the curtain down on his playing career. The veteran all-rounder said he has already started preparing for life after retirement by pursuing formal coaching qualifications and remains determined to stay connected with the game. Stokes, who retired from international cricket during England's Test series against New Zealand earlier this year, believes his experience as a player and captain has equipped him for a future coaching role.

Speaking about his post-retirement plans, Stokes said he is currently working on his Level 3 coaching qualification, ensuring that he is fully prepared when the opportunity arises. The 35-year-old explained that he wants to complete all the necessary coaching certifications while he is still actively involved in cricket so that he can smoothly transition into coaching after retirement.

"I’m doing my Level 3 coaching now while I’m still playing because I want everything completed by the time I finish playing," Stokes said. "I know what I want to do after my playing career, and that is to become a coach."

The former England skipper admitted that coaching the national team remains one of his biggest ambitions. He said that if the opportunity ever comes to lead England from the dressing room instead of the field, he would gladly accept the challenge.

"I want to be a coach, and would I love to coach England one day? Absolutely," Stokes said. "I believe I would do a good job because I now understand the responsibilities that come with leading a team. I don't mind making big decisions, and captaincy has helped me develop that mindset."

Stokes captained England's Test side from 2022 before stepping away from the leadership role following his retirement. During his tenure, he played a key role in reshaping England's approach to Test cricket with an aggressive and fearless style alongside head coach Brendon McCullum. His leadership was widely credited for transforming England's performances in the longest format of the game.

One of the greatest all-rounders of his generation, Stokes enjoyed an illustrious international career spanning more than a decade. He was instrumental in England's historic 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup triumph, delivering a match-winning performance in the dramatic final against New Zealand. The same year, he produced one of the most memorable innings in Test history with his unbeaten knock at Headingley during the Ashes, helping England pull off an extraordinary victory against Australia.

Following Stokes' retirement, Joe Root returned as England's Test captain, while former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming was appointed as the team's head coach. The new leadership combination has already begun preparing for England's upcoming international assignments.

During the interaction, Stokes also shared his thoughts on England's current white-ball captain Harry Brook. He praised Brook's leadership qualities and questioned the decision not to appoint him as stand-in Test captain when Stokes missed a Test match against New Zealand. According to Stokes, if the management believes a player has leadership potential, they should give him the opportunity rather than delaying the responsibility.

"I thought Brook should have been given the chance," Stokes said. "If someone is your vice-captain and the captain isn't available, then naturally he should lead the team. Otherwise, it sends the wrong message."

Stokes explained that while he understood the reasoning behind England's decision at the time, he still felt it could have affected Brook's confidence. He believes that trusting young leaders early in their careers helps them grow into stronger captains in the future.

Even after retiring from international cricket, Stokes remains closely connected with the sport and continues to contribute through mentoring younger players and preparing for a coaching career. His latest comments indicate that his association with English cricket is far from over, with the former captain now setting his sights on shaping the next generation from the sidelines.