Vaughan: McCullum must quit England amid Stokes farce

For all the criticism and sanctions aimed at Ben Stokes in recent weeks, former England captain Michael Vaughan has called for more heads to roll in the wake of the 35 year-old's decision to retire from international cricket.

Stokes' decision to step down was made public shortly before the tea break on day four of England's third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

Vaughan was live on air alongside Jonathan Agnew when the statement was released and could not contain his shock, claiming Stokes will have felt his hand was forced in the wake of his recent suspension for breaking a team curfew after a night out.

Vaughan believes an irreparable break down in trust between Stokes and the ECB will have played a significant role in the decision, but has called for more senior figures to step aside.

"There’s a question mark over Baz McCullum," Vaughan told SENQ Breakfast when asked what might come next for England. "Has he run his race with English cricket?

"He's been the coach for four-and-a-half years and the same mistakes were made last night as they were against Australia in 2023, so I personally think there needs to be more than just Ben Stokes step aside.

"I think the reset needs to be a full reset and a few others should follow him as well.

"I think English cricket and the leaders of our game have got some big decisions to make because clearly the operation, it's all right, Ben resigning and stepping aside, but clearly there's been some poor cricket decisions made and the style of cricket that England played this week, I described some of it as, as pathetic because it was pathetic."

When asked for his take on what happened with the nightclub visit, alleged fight with a rugby player and ultimately what pushed Stokes to make the call, Vaughan continued to explain that he simply believes the captain had no fight left.

"The captain was out a bit late and I'm pretty sure he would have known about the curfew if he'd have been a part of the leadership group which he is, there was just a lot of confusion about when the curfew, stopped," Vaughan said.

"Yesterday afternoon on the radio, me and Aggers were talking away and we get handed a sheet of paper with Ben's resignation which surprised everybody, no one could quite take it in.

"It just sounds like he's done, it just sounds like his mind, his body are done. For 13 years he's been an England cricketer and finally his body and mind has said 'enough's enough'.

"I’m led to believe he was thinking about it a few months ago after the Ashes.

"Having heard him speak this week, it sounds like his race has run, it sounds like his mind has just said to him that he doesn't want to carry on anymore."

Vaughan is also adamant that in 12 months time, there is a chance Stokes backflips on his decision.

"Stokes is gonna carry on playing, but as we know, when you carry on playing, that moment might come again, that you might wake up in a few months, a year's time and think, you know what, I wanna have another pop," he added.

"So while he's playing cricket, I personally still think there's a chance that he'll come back and play for England."