- Stellar Return: Ben Stokes Likely to Make a Comeback to England’s ODI Squad for World Cup
- Open Door After Retirement: Stokes’s Potential Return Accelerated by White-Ball Coach’s Interest
- Game-Changer’s Impact: Rashid Welcomes Stokes’s Return, Citing His Versatility and Skills
Adil Rashid applauded the likely return of “matchwinner” Ben Stokes to England’s one-day international squad for the World Cup in the fall, stating that attempting to coax the 32-year-old out of retirement was a “no-brainer” given his stellar record in white-ball cricket.
Last July, Stokes announced that he would no longer play the 50-over game, stating, “I can’t give my teammates 100% of myself in this format – three formats are simply unsustainable for me now.” However, after Stokes struck an unbeaten fifty to help England win the T20 World Cup final last November, England’s white-ball coach Matthew Mott made it clear that the door remained open for a possible return, and the process of making that happen has accelerated in recent days.
Mott stated last week that he intended to “see if he’s keen” on Jos Buttler serving as a principal negotiator. Mott stated, “We remain hopeful.” “Watching him in the Ashes series, he had such a commanding presence. He has performed well in one-day cricket for many years, making him a valuable asset.
England’s selectors convened on Tuesday to select a provisional 18-man squad for the World Cup – they have until September 28 to name the final 15 – as well as the squad to face New Zealand in four T20s and four ODIs before the tournament.
On Wednesday, their selections will be announced, and Stokes is anticipated to be among them.
On Tuesday, Rashid, who has played with England’s red-ball captain in 70 ODIs and 36 T20 internationals, including winning World Cups over 50 overs in 2019 and 20 overs in 2018, said there would be no hesitation in welcoming him back into the fold.
Rashid stated, “He is a game-changer with the bat, the ball, on the field, and in himself as well, given the way he approaches the game.” “He has demonstrated this in both World Cup finals. It is a no-brainer to have a player of his caliber on your team, as we are aware of his ability to win important games. Hopefully, he will contemplate returning.”
Although he made his mark as an all-rounder, Stokes has been managing a long-term injury to his left knee, which prevented him from bowling in the final three games of the most recent Ashes series, and he may return to the squad as a specialist batsman. It would be advantageous if Stokesy could also bowl, giving us an additional seam option,” Rashid stated. However, if Stokesy is only batting, he has won many games with the bat alone for England.
Rashid stated that an England team bolstered by Stokes’s return would have “a very good chance” at retaining the World Cup in India. “It’s difficult to say because anyone can beat anyone, but in our minds, we’ve got the motivation to go all the way, the ability, and the talent to win from any position,” he said.
