Former England captain Nasser Hussain has urged star all-rounder Ben Stokes to come out of ODI retirement for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
Hussain feels Stokes is the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle for England in ODIs.
The 31-year-old retired from ODI cricket in July 2022 because of the schedule.
While the star player hasn’t spoken about his return, white-ball coach Matthew Mott wants the player back.
“Ben Stokes is officially retired, but the team needs him. He is much needed if England want to defend the title they won in 2019,” he said on Sky Sports.
“Look at India. They have been unbeaten in bilateral matches at home for years, but the moment any crucial match comes up, they are beaten. England, when they play in important matches, Ben Stokes has always contributed. He is the man for the team,” he added.
Stokes played a key role in England’s World Cup final win over New Zealand in 2019. He scored 465 runs in 11 games at an average of 66.43 in the tournament.