One of the biggest names in modern-day cricket, the English test captain Ben Stokes, is back in ODIs. There were some reports that the England cricket management is trying to convince the all-rounder to come out of retirement as the 2023 ODI World Cup is coming up in India.
On Wednesday, the news came true as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced England’s squad for the upcoming 4-match ODI series against New Zealand, and Stokes is featured on that list.
This is excellent news for the defending champions because the all-rounder was the main reason that England defeated New Zealand in the final of the 2019 World Cup at home. Stokes announced his ODI retirement last summer, in July, to focus more on being the longest captain and the T20I format.
However, with England looking to defend their title, they needed a player like Stokes. And finally, the all-rounder has decided to come out of his ODI retirement. The ECB confirmed it and added him to the ODIs in place of Harry Brook. They announced a 15-member squad that might feature in the World Cup.
England will play five T20Is against the Kiwis starting on August 30. Then the four-match ODI series will begin on September 8. After that, England will also play three ODIs against Ireland. That means they have seven games before the start of the World Cup in India. Thus, the same team is likely to feature in the mega event.
The chief selector, Luke Wright, said in a statement, “The return of Ben Stokes only adds to that quality with his match-winning ability and leadership. I am certain that every fan will enjoy seeing him back in an England ODI shirt again.”
It will be a huge boost for England and its fans. Because everyone wants to see a player like him feature when it matters the most. Apart from Stokes, big names are also back in the ODI format for England, and they have announced a strong squad.
England’s ODI Squad vs NZ: Jos Buttler (captain), 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’s T20I Squad vs NZ: Jos Buttler (captain), 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 Turne, Luke Wood
