After Michael Vaughan, England coach Matthew Mott wants Ben Stokes to come out of ODI retirement and help the team defend their 50-over World Cup title next year in India.
Stokes, who played a match-winning knock in England’s win over Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup final, retired from one-day internationals, citing the rigor demands of all formats of the game.
“This has been an incredibly tough decision to make,” Stokes had said. I can’t give my 100% in all formats of the game. My body is letting me down, and I don’t want to take someone else place, who is a more deserving candidate to wear this jersey.”
Stokes was also the hero of England’s maiden 50-over World Cup triumph in 2019 when he scored 84 not out in a win against New Zealand at Lord’s. In 105 One-Day Internationals, he has amassed 2,924 runs at an average of 38.98. He hit three centuries and 21 half-centuries with the willow.
“When he spoke to me about his ODI retirement, I gave him my nod, but I told him that he didn’t have to retire and could stop playing for a while. And I said: ‘You could always unretire,” Mott told British media.
“Now the ODI World Cup is coming, and it will be good if we have him back in the team. But the decision will be his at the end of the day.”