After authoring a record-breaking century in the third ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday and looking in fine fettle in the lead-up to the World Cup, Ben Stokes has said that his decision to reverse his retirement in the 50-over format to play in the quadrennial extravaganza was not a sudden one but a well chalked-out plan.
Stokes recorded England’s highest-ever individual ODI score as he smashed a 124-ball 182 to help the hosts crush New Zealand by 181 runs.
Stokes had announced his shock ODI retirement last year citing his heavy workload.
As speculation that he might return to the format for England’s title defence swirled during the Ashes in June and July, the all-rounder quashed talk of a possible return to the ODI squad, citing a nagging knee injury. But he now says that it was only to dodge media attention.
Stokes returned to England’s ODI set-up last month.
“Obviously I’ve been asked a lot about my knee over a long period of time, so I just said that to leave it,” Stokes, England’s 2019 World Cup hero, said of his previous comments about the possibility of an ODI return.
“I knew that I’d be playing in these games and potentially in the World Cup then
when I said that, but it was just the easiest thing to say that and put you (the media) off the radar.”
England have agreed to play him as a specialist batter, preferably at No. 4, and he said the clarity about his role helped him bat with more freedom.
“This is the first time that I’ve been clear in my mind that that’s the one thing I can focus on,” Stokes said.
“I think over the last 18 months, every day has been, ‘will I bowl, will I not bowl?’ Now, I know that I can just focus on that ... Having that clarity in my head contributes to that.”
The 32-year-old hit nine sixes and 15 fours in an entertaining knock to lift the hosts to a total of 368 after being put into bat at The Oval.
“Coming back into the team after a while out, it’s nice to come back and help the team,” Stokes said. “As the experienced players, you want to be showing the guys to go out there and do that,” he said about his innings.
Left with a mountain to climb, New Zealand buckled under the pressure in the chase as they were bowled out for 187.
England take on New Zealand in the final ODI at Lord’s on Friday. They lead the four-match series 2-1.
Brief scores: England 368 in 48.1 ovs (Ben Stokes 182, Dawid Malan 96; Trent Boult 5/51). New Zealand 187 in 39 ovs (Glenn Phillips 72; Chris Woakes 3/31, Liam Livingstone 3/16). England won by 181 runs.
