While the England fans are buzzing with excitement over Ben Stokes coming out of his ODI retirement to feature in the upcoming World Cup 2023, former Australia Test captain Paine has slammed Stokes for being selfish, and this has cost young batsman Harry Brook his place in the World Cup squad.
Stokes had retired from ODIs in July last year, citing it being “unsustainable” for him to play all three formats, and also be leading England in Test cricket.
Now, with England not playing Test cricket until January 2024, England’s hero of the 2019 World Cup final, Stokes, decided to unretire himself and make a comeback for the World Cup as England would be aiming to defend their ODI world champions crown.
In all likelihood, Harry Brook would have made the England World Cup squad if Ben Stokes didn’t return. Selectors Luke Wright and white-ball coach Matthew Mott had stated that Stokes will predominantly play as a batsman because of his ongoing knee injury, which meant he bowled only a few overs in the recent Ashes and won’t bowl much in the World Cup as well.
‘Me, me, me’: Tim Paine on Ben Stokes’ decision to unretire
Tim Paine was unimpressed with Stokes coming out of retirement to play in the World Cup after being away from the ODI format for the past 12 months. Paine criticized Stokes for picking and choosing when he wants to play and taking up the spot of Brook.
Speaking with SEN Tassie, Tim Paine said: “Ben Stokes coming out of one day retirement, I found that interesting. It was a bit of, ‘Me, me, me’, there isn’t it? It was, ‘I’ll pick and I’ll choose where I want to play and when I want to play’, and, ‘I’ll play in the big tournaments’.”
“The guys who played for 12 months, ‘Sorry, thanks. But can you go and sit on the bench because I want to play now?’ I don’t know, he’s not bowling,” Paine said. “Harry Brook or Ben Stokes? As a bat. It would be very close, very, very close.”
England’s provisional squad for the World Cup: Jos Buttler (C), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran,Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes.
