Ollie Pope, a prominent England Test batter, expressed his support for Ben Stokes joining the ODI World Cup 2023 squad. Pope is optimistic about the rumours surrounding Stokes’ comeback from retirement and looks forward to witnessing his participation in the tournament.
Recent reports suggest that Stokes might rejoin the England ODI side led by Jos Buttler for the World Cup defence in India. Stokes had previously retired from ODI cricket in July 2022, citing a heavy workload and a desire to focus on Test cricket, where he was also captaining the team.
His potential return is significant due to his pivotal role in England’s previous World Cup triumphs. In the 2019 World Cup final against New Zealand, Stokes’ standout performance earned him the Player of the Match award. He played a crucial part in securing England’s first Cricket World Cup victory by scoring an unbeaten 84 runs. Stokes continued to shine in the 2022 T20 World Cup, contributing significantly to England’s victory in the final against Pakistan.
His unbeaten 52 runs played a key role in England’s successful pursuit of a target of 138. Stokes’ remarkable performances allowed England to become the first team to simultaneously hold both the T20 and ODI World Cups in men’s cricket.
Despite facing a knee injury during IPL 2023 and the Ashes earlier this year, Stokes’ potential return for the ODI World Cup remains a subject of interest, even though he is expected to miss IPL 2024 due to upcoming surgery to address his knee issue, as reported by British media.
Pope made an exclusive statement via Sky Sports:
“Ben Stokes is someone who loves playing for England. I think as much as anyone else. And he’s a player that any England team is lucky to have in the side, and obviously, he’s got his knee (problem). It’s no secret that he’s been trying to manage that, but it’s great for him that he feels like he’s in a place where he can go and have a big contribution in a tournament like the World Cup.”
“And any team that has Ben Stokes is going to be a better team as well. So I mean, it’s great. It’s great for everybody and fingers crossed. If all these rumours are true, then I’m sure he’ll have an amazing tournament.”
England’s ODI World Cup team is already brimming with skill, and incorporating Ben Stokes could potentially create a dilemma for coach Matthew Mott and captain Jos Buttler. Ollie Pope emphasized that England possesses ample strength to contend for the title defense, and including Ben Stokes will simply amplify their existing potency.
Pope continues: “Yeah, absolutely (Can England win it without Stokes?). I mean, look, we saw he didn’t have his best tournament in Australia, and then as he does, he stepped up when the team needed him the most in the semi-final and the final. He is someone who steps up in the biggest stages.”
“But then again, you look at that team and there are guys with the bat who can do exactly that. I think the way sort of Brook has come through and Jos Butler himself. He’s someone you want in those massive games as well. I think there are guys throughout the order. Um, Joe (Root), obviously. I mean, the list is endless.”
Prior to the 2023 World Cup, England will engage in four ODIs against New Zealand on their home ground, followed by a three-match ODI series against Ireland. The opening match of the World Cup, scheduled for October 5 in Ahmedabad, will see Jos Buttler’s team facing New Zealand in a rematch of the 2019 final.
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