England’s Test team, led by Ben Stokes, faced disappointment as the fourth Ashes Test was washed out in Manchester, resulting in Australia already securing a 2-1 series lead and retaining the urn. Despite a dominant performance by England in the Manchester Test, the rain-enforced draw proved to be a harsh blow for the team. As both sides prepare for the final Test at The Oval, England’s captain, Ben Stokes, clarified his stance on the murmurs surrounding his potential ODI comeback, confirming that he will remain retired.
Rumors about Ben Stokes considering a comeback to ODI cricket had gained momentum after his match-winning performance in the T20 World Cup final against Pakistan. However, Stokes had remained ambiguous about the possibility.
In November last year, he expressed uncertainty, stating that he had not ruled out the idea of representing his country in the 2023 World Cup in India. Nevertheless, the England Test captain has now restated these speculations by reaffirming his retirement from ODI cricket. Stokes asserted that he remains focused on the ongoing Ashes series and has no plans to reconsider his decision.
“… who knows how I might feel towards a World Cup at the time. Going to a World Cup is an amazing thing to do, to represent your country. But at the moment, I’m not even thinking about that,” Stokes had said in November last year.
Despite these setbacks, Stokes clarified that his injury did not influence his retirement from ODI cricket. He acknowledged the importance of resolving his injury concerns but attributed his absence from ODIs to a conscious decision.
“I’m retired. I’m going on holiday after this game, and that’s as far as I’m thinking.” Stokes reiterated, as quoted by the ICC.
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As the Ashes series ends, England will be eager to finish on a high note at The Oval, striving for a win to salvage some pride. With Ben Stokes leading the team, England will seek to build momentum and carry the positives from the Test series into future cricketing challenges.
“It’s something I want to get sorted. The times in which I’ve seen specialists and stuff like that, there has been cricket around. So, as it’s been manageable, we’ve just cracked on.” Stokes said.
