Rob Key says he "wouldn't be surprised" if Ben Stokes came out of international retirement, insisting that "anything is possible" for the former England captain.
Stokes, 35, announced his retirement from international cricket after England's third Test defeat to New Zealand in June, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable career. His decision came after a difficult period that included an investigation into an incident at a London nightclub following a breach of the team's midnight curfew. The all-rounder was later cleared of any wrongdoing and admitted the controversy contributed to his decision to step away from the international game.
England have since undergone major changes, with Brendon McCullum departing as Test coach, Stephen Fleming taking over the role, and Joe Root returning as Test captain.
Despite having no indication that Stokes plans to reverse his retirement, Key believes the door remains open for a sensational comeback, potentially in next summer's Ashes series against Australia.
"It would be a brilliant story if he does. Anything's possible with Ben," Key told Sky Sports.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan also believes the appointments of Fleming and Root could tempt Stokes to reconsider his decision.
Vaughan suggested England would benefit greatly from having an all-rounder of Stokes' calibre and said the recent changes within the Test set-up offer a "glimmer of hope" that the 35-year-old could make a stunning return in 2027.
Meanwhile, Key backed Fleming to build a team capable of sustained success, saying the former New Zealand captain has the experience and leadership qualities to help England become a consistently world-class side capable of challenging Australia at the highest level.
