Ben Stokes proves Rohit Sharma right with hinting at white-ball comeback for England

Ben Stokes’ last T20I and ODI appearanes came in the respective last World Cups.

England cricket team test captain Ben Stokes has expressed thoughts on his potential comeback to white-ball cricket for his nation. This statement came days after England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) appointed their test coach Brendon McCullum as white-ball coach as well.

Recently, India test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma made a statement on cricketers taking U-turn after announcing their retirements. He also stated that he has no intentions of making U-turn from T20I retirement, a call which he took after India won ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Rohit also highlighted instances of players taking U-turns after announcing retirement, saying that taking retirements has become a joke now days.

“Retirement has become a joke these days in World cricket, people announce retirement but then return to play, it hasn’t happened in India – however I have been observing players from other countries, they announce retirement but then make a U-turn so you never really know whether someone has actually retired – my decision is final & I am very clear – it was a perfect time to say goodbye from T20I,” Rohit told Jio Cinema.

It’s an amazing opportunity: Ben Stokes

Just few days after Rohit’s statement, England test captain Ben Stokes has expressed his thoughts on his potential comeback to white-ball cricket for the Three Lions. Stokes retired from ODI cricket in 2022 and then returned to play in the ODI World Cup 2023. He also made himself unavailable for T20 World Cup earlier this year.

After Brendon McCullum got appointed as the new head coach of England’s white-ball sides, Stokes said that he is open to his potential comeback only if it is in the best interests of the white-ball teams of England.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for the white-ball team to experience what Baz has brought to the Test team. He’s an incredible coach who speaks with utter commitment, and it’s nice to have all three teams now with the same messaging and the same philosophies towards playing cricket,” Stokes told Sky Sports during the third ODI at Chester-le-Street.

“If I get the call and [Baz] says, ‘do you want to come and play?’ Then obviously, it’s definitely going to be a yes, but I’m not going to be too disappointed if I don’t, because I can just sit back and watch everyone else go out and smack it,” Stokes added.

Happy with I’ve achieved: Ben Stokes

Stokes stated that he is very happy with what he has achieved in white-ball cricket till now. Notably, the veteran all-rounder played match-winning knocks in England’s ICC two white-ball tournament victories – ODI World Cup 2019 final and T20 World Cup 2022 final.

“I’ve played a lot of white-ball cricket for England, and I’m very happy with what I’ve achieved in that form of the game,” he added. “But to be honest, we’ve not even spoken about anything like that whatsoever. I think he’s just letting me concentrate on what I need to concentrate on, especially around the Test team,” Stokes concluded.

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