England's cricketing sensation, Ben Stokes, has divulged his plans for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023, putting an end to speculations surrounding his potential return to the 50-over format. Last year, after the home series against South Africa, the versatile all-rounder had made headlines by sensationally retiring from ODI cricket, intending to focus on his Test and T20I careers.
In November of the same year, Stokes had hinted at the possibility of reversing his ODI retirement to participate in one more World Cup for his country in the 50-over format. He had disclosed that Rob Key, the director of men's cricket, had approached him about a potential ODI comeback.
“Keysy pulled me to the side in the UAE and as soon as he said ’50-over World Cup’ I just walked away,” said Stokes.
“Who knows? At the moment, being out here, my focus is solely on this series (against Pakistan). But it’s one of those things. But 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,” he had added.
Notably, Ben Stokes played a pivotal role in England's triumphant campaign in the T20 World Cup, exhibiting his exceptional skills as a Test captain. Throughout the tournament, he scored 110 runs at an impressive average of 36.66 and contributed with six wickets. His match-winning unbeaten half-century in the final against Pakistan showcased his unrivaled prowess.
However, despite the allure of representing England in the World Cup, the star all-rounder has now firmly reiterated his retirement from the 50-over format, ruling out any plans to participate in the prestigious ICC World Cup 2023. Instead, Ben Stokes has chosen to prioritize his well-being, considering surgery for an ongoing knee injury.
“I’m retired,” Ben Stokes reiterated. “I’m going on holiday after this game and that’s as far as I’m thinking.”
Discussing his nagging knee issue, Stokes admitted that he sustained the injury during England's tour of New Zealand earlier in the year and has been grappling with it since then. This year's IPL saw him featuring in just two matches for Chennai Super Kings, and in the ongoing Ashes series, he has been limited to bowling a mere few overs across the first two Tests.
“It’s something I obviously want to get sorted,” Stokes said of his injury. “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.
“But I think that is a good time to have some serious conversations with medics around what is potentially something I could do to get a role in which I can bowl without having to worry about my knee. Those are conversations we will be able to have in that time off,” he added.
With the focus now firmly on recuperating from his knee problem, Ben Stokes is taking a proactive approach to ensure his long-term fitness and well-being. His decision not to participate in the ICC World Cup 2023 will undoubtedly have implications for England's squad dynamics, but his commitment to prioritizing his health stands as a testament to his dedication to the sport.