England head coach Matthew Mott and former captain Michael Vaughan have both spoken in favour of Ben Stokes coming out of his ODI retirement, as this is a World Cup year. Mott acknowledged Stokes’ impact on the team, while Vaughan asked Stokes to make himself available for the 2023 World Cup. Stokes, who has represented England in 105 ODIs, has been focusing on Test cricket and T20Is recently, with the 2019 World Cup final being the highlight of his one-day career.
Here, we will look at three reasons why Ben Stokes should come out of ODI retirement:
#1 His experience will be invaluable
Ben Stokes may have only played 105 One Day Internationals (ODIs), but his reputation speaks to his vast experience in the international arena. England has a pool of talented players, yet Stokes’s wealth of experience remains the same. Therefore, it would be beneficial for him to reconsider his choice to retire from ODIs.
#2 His reputation as a big match player
Ben Stokes was always there to deliver when the pressure was on, and England needed it most. In the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup Final, New Zealand had England on 86-4 in pursuit of 242. Stokes rose to the occasion and scored vital runs, leading England to a tie and eventually their first World Cup victory in decades. His knack for performing in big moments means that if he isn’t included in the 2023 World Cup squad, Buttler and the rest of the team will have some huge shoes to fill.
#3 England’s underwhelming ODI record recently
Since the 2019 World Cup, England has not been as successful in the ODIs as before the tournament. With 18 wins and 14 losses out of 32 matches, it is clear that their performance is a cause for concern. Furthermore, following the retirement of their captain Eoin Morgan, there has been a shift in leadership. To help address these matters, England could benefit from the presence of Ben Stokes, one of the best all-rounders in the world.
