In a surprising turn of events, Ben Stokes has reversed his decision to retire from One Day International (ODI) cricket, aiming to play a pivotal role in England’s bid to defend their World Cup title in India this October. Stokes, whose heroic performance earned him the Player of the Match title in the 2019 World Cup final, had stepped away from ODI cricket in July last year, citing the physical demands of playing all three formats of the game.
Stokes’s return to the ODI format has been spurred by the England team management’s desire to have his experience and match-winning capabilities in their quest for another World Cup triumph. Despite leading the Test team, Stokes will make his comeback to the 50-over format, with the absence of Test matches in England’s schedule until January 2024 providing him the opportunity to focus on limited-overs cricket.
However, Stokes has not been included in the T20 International (T20I) series against New Zealand. Although he has not officially retired from T20Is, his appearances in the shortest format for England have been infrequent. His last T20I appearance for the national team was in November of the previous year.
The England cricket selectors have unveiled two white-ball squads for the upcoming series against New Zealand, consisting of four ODIs and four T20Is. Exciting newcomer Gus Atkinson, known for his impressive performances in The Hundred, has been handed his maiden international call-up and has found a place in both squads. The ODI squad is led by Jos Buttler, while the T20I side will be captained by Buttler as well.
The selected squads also feature uncapped talents, with Surrey’s Gus Atkinson and John Turner receiving their first international call-ups. Josh Tongue, who showcased his potential during the recently-concluded Ashes series, has earned a spot in the T20I squad.
England ODI Squad:
- Jos Buttler (c)
- Moeen Ali
- Gus Atkinson
- Jonny Bairstow
- Sam Curran
- Liam Livingstone
- Dawid Malan
- Adil Rashid
- Joe Root
- Jason Roy
- Ben Stokes
- Reece Topley
- David Willey
- Mark Wood
- Chris Woakes
England T20I Squad:
- Jos Buttler (c)
- Rehan Ahmed
- Moeen Ali
- Gus Atkinson
- Jonny Bairstow
- Harry Brook
- Sam Curran
- Ben Duckett
- Will Jacks
- Liam Livingstone
- Dawid Malan
- Adil Rashid
- Josh Tongue
- John Turner
- Luke Wood
The England team is enthusiastic about the return of Ben Stokes, recognizing his game-changing abilities and leadership on the field. Luke Wright, England Men’s National Selector, expressed his confidence in Stokes’s impact on the team’s performance. The return of a seasoned player like Stokes, along with the inclusion of promising talents, sets the stage for an intense and competitive series against New Zealand.
The eagerly awaited ODI series against New Zealand is scheduled to commence on September 8 and will take place across iconic cricket venues, including Sophia Gardens, The Ageas Bowl, The Oval, and Lord’s. As cricket enthusiasts gear up to witness the clash between two cricketing giants, the spotlight will be on Ben Stokes’s remarkable comeback and England’s determined pursuit of World Cup glory. Stay tuned for a thrilling showdown between two of the world’s cricketing powerhouses.
