The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and captain Jos Buttler are ready to address Ben Stokes for the upcoming 2023 ICC World Cup. White ball coach Matthew Mott is keen to have Ben Stokes on the team as a hitter.
Ben Stokes retired from ODI cricket in July 2022 and has since focused solely on Tests and T20Is. He stated that playing all three formats had become unsustainable for him. But as he is a big match player, England are keen to win him for the 2023 ICC World Cup, especially after what he did at the last ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup. England head coach Matthew Mott revealed, speaking to the Daily Mail, that captain Jos Buttler will like him, adding that even if he doesn’t bowl, they want him on the team as a batsman. He stated:
“Jos will probably take the lead on this communication but Ben is pretty honest with all of us. We’ll see if he’s interested. There’s still no clear direction as to what he’ll do, but we’re still hopeful. I’ve always said his bowling would be a bonus, but just look at what he brings with the bat, even on the field.
“Watching him throughout the Ashes series, his presence was so awesome. He’s been doing it for years when it comes to performing well in one-day cricket and that’s why he’s an invaluable asset.”
Ben Stokes was a good servant of England in ODIs, hitting 2924 runs, a 38.98 average with three tons and 21 half-centuries in 105 ODIs. In addition, he picked 74 wickets with an average of 42.39. Ben Stokes recently captained England at the Ashes 2023 and his presence was vital to the team. He played a stunning role, scoring 405 runs with an average of 45 in five Tests. He was one of the main reasons for his team’s draw.
ICC World Cup 2023: England announce squad for World Cup on Tuesday (15 August)
The reports also suggest that England are expected to announce their squad for the 2023 ICC World Cup on Tuesday (15 August). The defending champions will be one of the favorites to win the tournament as they have been one of the top white ball teams for a number of years.
England would also like to have Jofra Archer in the team as he has been awaiting his return for some time. The Pacer has started bowling the nets and is almost fit again. If all goes well, he will fly to India.
