STOKES KEY TO ENGLAND REVIVAL

Test skipper is in frame for ODI return after winter flop

- MIKE WALTERS

OLORD'S ringmaster Rob Key has revealed England's duds made such a hash of the Champions Trophy that they could go back to Ben Stokes as white-ball captain.

After the cult of 'Bazball' was devalued by a dismal winter in limited-overs cricket, England's managing director admitted: "We haven't helped ourselves."

Jos Buttler quit as white-ball captain after England's humiliating exit from another global competition.

They played three, lost three at the Champions Trophy - which followed their limp defence of the 50-over World Cup in India 17 months ago.

And as Key laid the blame squarely at the door of his batsmen, he sprang a surprise by confiding that Stokes was under consideration to extend his Bazball double act with coach Brendon McCullum beyond the Test arena.

Stokes, 33, has not played any form of white-ball cricket for England since the 2023 World Cup, while McCullum expanded his remit to include limited-overs thrashes in January.