'Ben is his own man': Jos Buttler on his conversation with Ben Stokes about ODI retirement

English cricket all-rounder and Test captain Ben Stokes shocked the cricket fans after announcing a sudden retirement from the 50-over format in July 2022. Stokes was the hero of the 2019 ODI World Cup final and played a brilliant knock of 84* runs against New Zealand, which later helped his team win the title. With the 2023 edition of the tournament inching closer, Stokes has reversed his decision and is included in England's provisional ODI World Cup 2023 squad. 

3 things you need to know 

• England plays the opening match of the ODI World Cup 2023 against New Zealand on October 5, 2023 
• The match will be a repeat of the ODI World Cup 2019 Final 
• Jos Buttler will lead England in the ODI World Cup 2023 

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Jos Buttler opens up on retirement reversal conversation with Ben Stokes 

(England's limited overs skipper Jos Buttler during the T20 World Cup 2021 / Image: AP) 

England's limited overs skipper Jos Buttler had talks with Ben Stokes, after which the all-rounder reversed his ODI retirement decision. As the English team has started to prepare for the upcoming major ICC tournament, Buttler while speaking on the ICC Review, has opened up on his conversation with Stokes. Jos Buttler said: 

Ben is very much his own man, he makes his own decisions. I've played with him for a very long time, I'm good friends with him. Me badgering him and saying 'come back, come back' is not really the way things work with Ben. He very much makes up his own mind and decides. We had some conversations around it and just left it in his court. I'm sure the lure of playing in a World Cup is quite big for someone as competitive and as driven as he is to play in an England shirt. I'm delighted he felt up to it and could come back

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Ben Stokes' inclusion boosts England's chances to defend ODI World Cup title 

Ben Stokes' return to England's ODI squad will certainly give a major boost to their preparations for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023. The Jos Buttler-led side will aim to defend their title and win the trophy for the second consecutive time. However, Stokes' inclusion has resulted in the snub of many key players like Harry Brook and Jofra Archer. 

Ben Stokes played a match-winning knock of 84* runs off 98 balls and kept the English team in the run chase of 242 runs against New Zealand in the 2019 ODI World Cup. His knock certainly played an important role in pushing the match to a super over, after the scores were tied at the end of England's second innings. The super over as well was not able to decide the winner of the match and it also ended in a draw. At last, it was the boundary count which decided the winner of the match, and England hitting more boundaries, lifted their first-ever ODI World Cup.