Ben Stokes has made a shock return to England’s ODI squad, 13 months after announcing his retirement from the format. The all-rounder has been named in the 15-player squad for the four-match series against New Zealand next month, as England begin their preparations for the 2023 World Cup in India.
Stokes’s decision to return to ODI cricket is a major boost for England, who will be looking to defend their title in India. The 31-year-old is one of the world’s best all-rounders, and his presence in the team will add a lot of firepower to England’s batting and bowling.
Stokes retired from ODI cricket in July 2022, citing the demands of playing all three formats of the game as well as his mental health. However, he has since made a full recovery and is now ready to return to the ODI side.
England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, said that he was “delighted” to have Stokes back in the squad. “He’s a world-class cricketer and he’s going to be a huge asset to us,” McCullum said. “He’s a very important member of our team and we’re looking forward to having him back.”
Stokes’s return to the ODI squad is a major positive for England, who are currently ranked number one in the world in both Test and ODI cricket. The team will be looking to build on their recent success in the Test format, and Stokes’s return will give them a big boost in their quest to defend their World Cup title.
The four-match ODI series against New Zealand will be played from September 1-10. The first two matches will be played at The Oval in London, while the last two matches will be played at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.