‘Don’t waste your £1 to read this’: Ben Stokes slams England comeback report, calls Ashes story ‘Misleading’

Ben Stokes has dismissed reports suggesting he could return to England’s Test team for the 2027 Ashes. The former England captain called a report misleading after it linked his plans to play for Durham next summer with a possible international comeback.

Stokes retired from international cricket in June 2026 and plans to focus on Durham’s County Championship campaign next season. The report suggested he could return to England’s Test team ahead of the 2027 Ashes against Australia. However, Stokes has denied the claims and made it clear that the story was misleading.

Stokes responded to the report on social media and shared a link to an article published by iNews. He wrote, “Please don’t waste your £1 to read this…” The England star criticised the report’s headline and urged fans not to spend their money on a story he described as misleading.

See Ben Stokes’ post here:

Ben Stokes hits out at England Ashes comeback report

Ben Stokes has hit back at a report suggesting he could return to England’s Test team for the 2027 Ashes. Stokes retired from international cricket in June 2026 and plans to focus on Durham’s County Championship campaign next season. The report linked his plans to play county cricket with a possible return to England’s Test side.

However, the 35-year-old quickly rejected the suggestion and criticised the way the report presented the possibility of a comeback. Stokes shared the article on social media and called its headline misleading. He also urged readers not to spend £1 to read the story.

See also -Ben Stokes to play PSL 2027? England all-rounder in talks with franchises

Stokes’ response has brought fresh attention to the report and speculation about his future in international cricket. The Ashes is one of cricket’s biggest rivalries, with England set to face Australia in 2027. However, Stokes has made it clear that the report does not reflect his plans. See Stokes’ post here.

What Stokes said and which claims he called misleading

Ben Stokes quickly rejected the report suggesting he could return to England’s Test team for the 2027 Ashes. He responded on social media, writing, “Please don’t waste your £1 to read this… It’s a completely misleading headline and no truth to the Ashes story whatsoever!” Stokes made it clear that he disagreed with the report’s claims about his possible comeback.

Stokes retired from international cricket after England’s home Test series against New Zealand in June 2026. Joe Root took over as England’s Test captain following his retirement. England also made a change in their coaching staff, with Stephen Fleming replacing Brendon McCullum as the head coach of the Test team.

See also -Ben Stokes retires: 5 most iconic Test innings that defined his legendary career

The iPaper report claimed that Stokes could consider returning to England’s Test team if the circumstances were right and Root personally asked him to come back. It also suggested that Stokes plans to play 10 County Championship matches for Durham next season and prioritise red-ball cricket. As a result, he could miss the 2027 IPL auction and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) because of scheduling clashes. However, Stokes has dismissed the report’s claims as misleading.

England camp reaction and what it means ahead of the Ashes

The England camp has not yet reacted publicly to Stokes’ comments. Since his retirement, England have continued to make changes to their Test setup, with Stephen Fleming set to take over as head coach and Joe Root leading the team as captain. The 2027 Ashes against Australia will be one of their biggest challenges.

Stokes’ absence means England will be without one of their most experienced leaders and proven match-winners. However, his decision to play red-ball cricket for Durham should not be seen as a sign of an international comeback. His latest social media post makes it clear that he disagrees with the report suggesting he could return for the Ashes.

Stokes called the report’s headline misleading and denied the claims about a possible comeback. His comments have brought fresh attention to the story, but they should be understood as a response to the specific Ashes claims in the report. For now, there is no confirmed indication that Stokes plans to return to England’s Test team.