Ben Stokes boosted England’s chances of defending their world champions title as he decided to unretire from ODIs to play in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 in India and captain Jos Buttler said that it was the all-rounder’s decision.
Stokes, 32, had called time on his ODI career in 2022 citing workload management after becoming England Test captain and a relentless international schedule.
However, he decided to come out of retirement after a talk with captain Buttler, and the hero of the 2019 World Cup and last year's T20 World Cup triumph, was officially drafted back into the 50-over provisional squad on Wednesday.
Ben Stokes reached out "a week or 10 days" after the Ashes concluded at the end of July to inform Buttler he wanted to return.
"To be honest, it was Ben's call. You all know Ben pretty well by now - I don't think anyone talking to him would persuade him. We had some conversations quite a while ago about it and just left it to him to come to me, basically, if he wanted to come back. We're delighted that he feels ready to come back and any time you can welcome him back into the team is great.
Ben is very much his own man, he makes his own decisions. I've played with him for a very long time, I'm good friends with him. Me badgering him and saying 'come back, come back' is not really the way things work with Ben. He very much makes up his own mind and decides,” Buttler was quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
Stokes' one-day record is arguably his best of the three formats, scoring 2,924 runs at an average of 38.98 across 105 caps and 74 wickets at 42.39. However, while talking about Stokes’ comeback to ODIs, Buttler confirmed that the all-rounder will play purely as a batter due to his chronic knee issues.
"We had some conversations around it and just left it in his court. I'm sure the lure of playing in a World Cup is quite big for someone as competitive and as driven as he is to play in an England shirt. I'm delighted he felt up to it and could come back,” Buttler added.
Stokes was player of the match in the 2019 ODI final, when his 84 not out took England to a Super Over in which he batted alongside Buttler, with the hosts eventually winning on a boundary count after the scores were tied.
"I don't think you need me to tell you what Ben Stokes brings to a team. It's fantastic to have Ben back available. Any time a player of his quality is available again is fantastic. We're delighted to welcome him back,” Buttler said.
Stokes has said that the end of the men's Ashes and the beginning of a five-match Test series against India in January 2024 was his ideal window to sort out the chronic issue in his left knee which has hampered his bowling lately.
