Ben Stokes has confessed that he had already planned to reverse his ODI retirement while playing in the Ashes series, with an eye on England’s defense of the 50-over World Cup in India.
Back in July, Stokes had announced his intention to use his break to address his persistent left knee injury, expressing a desire to “get it sorted” as soon as possible. However, just two weeks later, he found himself named in England’s squad for their series against New Zealand and included in the provisional World Cup squad, despite having retired from ODI cricket in July 2022.
Reflecting on his earlier statements about his knee, Stokes admitted, “Obviously I’ve been asked a lot about my knee over a long period of time, so I just said that to leave it. I knew that I’d be playing in these games and potentially in the World Cup then when I said that, but it was just the easiest thing to say that and put you [the press] off the radar.”
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Stokes made this revelation after his remarkable innings of 182 runs off 124 balls in England’s commanding victory over New Zealand. This performance not only broke Jason Roy’s record for the highest individual score by an England batter in men’s ODIs but also underscored the fact that he still had plenty to offer in 50-over cricket.
Reflecting on his innings, Stokes highlighted the importance of realizing the ample time available in a 50-over match, saying, “You have way more time than you think. In terms of game awareness and game smartness, today was good for that.”
Stokes, who now occupies the No. 4 position in the batting order, noted that this clarity in his role as a specialist batter has prompted a mindset shift. He emphasized that he hasn’t altered his approach but now can fully focus on his batting, with no uncertainty about bowling.
While he would prefer not to bat so early in the innings, Stokes mentioned that his approach in one-day cricket remains consistent with his previous positions, whether at No. 4 or No. 5, as he aims to contribute effectively to the team’s success.