The sudden change of heart by England’s star all-rounder Ben Stokes regarding his retirement from One Day Internationals (ODIs) has left cricket enthusiasts amused and excited.
Stokes, who had previously retired from ODIs in July 2022, surprised everyone by making himself available for the upcoming 2023 World Cup. Adding a touch of humour to his decision, Stokes used the acronym “LOL” to convey his change of mind.
This light-hearted response from Stokes brought to mind a similar incident involving his teammate Moeen Ali. When Stokes invited Ali to join the 2023 Ashes series, Ali’s response was also delivered with a touch of humour, further adding to the camaraderie within the team.
At 32 years old, Stokes’ previous retirement from ODIs was attributed to the demanding nature of international cricket’s hectic schedule. His final appearance in a 50-over match was against South Africa at Chester-le-Street, where he scored just five runs before being dismissed. Stokes had amassed an impressive ODI career spanning 105 matches before his retirement.
Lol
— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) August 16, 2023
The unexpected twist in Stokes’ retirement came when the England Cricket Board (ECB) included him in the squad for the upcoming four-match ODI series against New Zealand, set to begin on September 8th. BeforeBefore the ODI contests, England will also engage in a series of four T20 Internationals against New Zealand.
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Stokes’ return to the ODI format is eagerly anticipated, particularly due to his instrumental role in England’s victorious campaign during the 2019 World Cup. His all-around skills and experience make him a key asset to the team, and his decision to reverse his retirement has injected excitement and anticipation into the cricketing community.
