Ben Stokes’ ODI retirement U-turn confirmed in main World Cup enhance
B
en Stokes has confirmed his determination to come back out of One-Day International retirement in a serious enhance to England’s hopes of defending their World Cup crown.
England on Wednesday named their squads for the upcoming white-ball collection’ in opposition to New Zealand, which is able to act as important preparation for the autumn’s match in India, with Stokes included for the primary time since strolling away from 50-over cricket final summer season.
The 32-year-old is a part of a 15-man squad for the 4 ODIs in September, as is uncapped Surrey seamer Gus Atkinson, however Harry Brook is a shock omission and can as a substitute must depend on the four-match T20 collection, which begins on August 30, to stake his declare for a World Cup place.
Jofra Archer will not be concerned as he continues to get well from a stress fracture however is anticipated to go to India if match and, within the meantime, England will use the New Zealand collection to evaluate their bowling choices.
Atkinson, who has impressed for Surrey this summer season and was clocked at 95mph in The Hundred final week, is the only wildcard in an ODI assault that in any other case has a well-recognized really feel, however Hampshire’s John Turner has been handed a maiden call-up for the T20 leg and Josh Tongue can be included for the primary time after making his Test bow this summer season.
Stokes introduced his retirement from ODI cricket final July, citing issues over his workload having not too long ago taken over the Test captaincy, although, satirically, the schedule has been so plagued by format clashes since that he has hardly missed any 50-over cricket for which he would in any other case have been accessible. Joe Root, for example, has not performed an ODI for the reason that South Africa collection by which Stokes performed his final match.
The all-rounder had reiterated his stance as not too long ago as July and urged he would use the break earlier than England’s Test tour to India early subsequent 12 months to resolve a long-standing knee concern, however the lure of the World Cup has proved too nice to withstand, with Matthew Mott and Jos Buttler prepared to make use of their talisman as a specialist batter if his health requires.
England shouldn’t have to announce their 15-man squad for the World Cup (together with three travelling reserves) till September 5 and might make modifications till the again finish of the month however Stokes’s return has already made the squeeze on batting locations clear, with Brook the obvious casualty.
The Yorkshireman has been a breakout star for England over the past 12 months, successful the T20 World Cup and having fun with a superb debut Ashes collection after a shocking Test winter, however has performed solely three ODIs thus far, making a prime rating of 80 between two failures on this 12 months’s South Africa tour.
Test opener Ben Duckett can be neglected of the ODI squad, as is Surrey’s Will Jacks, with each included solely within the T20 group, alongside teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed. England have opted in opposition to together with specialist cowl for Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid within the 50-over occasion at this stage.
Stokes’s return implies that 9 gamers concerned within the 2019 success stay within the body, together with opening pair Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow, although the previous’s place may but come underneath stress from Dawid Malan.
England ODI squad to face New Zealand: Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes
England T20 squad to face New Zealand: Buttler, Moeen, Atkinson, Bairstow, Harry Brook, Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Livingstone, Malan, Rashid, Josh Tongue, John Turner, Luke Wood