England men’s cricket director Rob Key says he would not be surprised if former captain Ben Stokes eventually reversed his international retirement, though he has received no indication that a return is planned. Stokes’s potential availability would matter particularly ahead of next summer’s home Ashes, as England seek to rebuild following changes in both the captaincy and coaching staff.

Stokes, 35, retired during England’s June Test series defeat by New Zealand, after a nightclub-curfew controversy which he said influenced his decision despite being cleared. Stephen Fleming has replaced Brendon McCullum as Test coach and Joe Root has returned as captain; Key believes Fleming can help England build sustained success, while Michael Vaughan said the new leadership could make a future Stokes return more conceivable. Root has 14,114 Test runs, England’s record, and is second on the all-time Test run-scoring list behind Sachin Tendulkar.