Ben Stokes' gives speculation-ending two-word reply on ODI retirement U-turn before WC

The fifth Test of the England vs Australia Ashes 2023 series gets underway on Thursday, July 27 at The Oval Stadium in Kennington, London. On the eve of the final Ashes Test, England captain Jos Buttler spoke to reporters and shed light on England’s playing XI. England decided to field an unchanged playing XI from the fourth Test, which they were very close to winning.

3 Things You Need To Know

• James Anderson retained his place in the England playing XI for the 5th Ashes Test
• The fourth Test of Ashes 2023 ended in a draw after the fifth day was washed out
• Pat Cummins-led Australia head into the 5th Test with a 2-1 lead in Ashes 2023

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Ben Stokes’ high praise of ‘The Greatest’ James Anderson ahead of 5th Ashes Test

Ben Stokes backed James Anderson’s place in the England Test squad during the pre-match press conference, saying the 40-year-old is as good as two years ago. “James Anderson is the greatest fast bowler to play the game and he’s still looking as good as he was two years ago. Although he’s not had the impact or the wickets he would have liked to in this series, he’s a quality bowler and quality performer. To have nearly 700 Test wickets is phenomenal, and to be able to do it all around the world as well,” said Stokes at The Oval.

Anderson stands third in the list of highest-takers in Test cricket with 689 scalps to his name. He also tops the list of fast bowlers to take the most wickets in red-ball cricket. However, he has registered just four wickets in three matches in the Ashes 2023 and hopes to make an impact in the fifth Test at The Oval.

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Will Ben Stokes play in the upcoming ODI World Cup?

In 2022, Ben Stokes shocked the world as he announced his retirement from the ODI format citing workload issues but there have been murmurs around that Ben Stokes can return to ODI cricket for the upcoming World Cup which is slated to take place in India from October. Ahead of the fifth Ashes Test, Ben Stokes reponed to a much-anticipated query from a reporter which was related to his comeback to ODI cricket. Responding to the question Ben Stokes said:

“Who knows how I might feel towards a World Cup at the time. Going to a World Cup is an amazing thing to do, to represent your country. But at the moment I'm not even thinking about that,” Stokes had said in November last year.

However, the England Test captain has seemingly made up his mind now, confirming that he remains retired from the format and will, in fact, take a break after the Ashes series.

"I'm retired," Stokes reiterated, as quoted by the ICC.

Check out England’s playing XI for the 5th Ashes Test

England playing XI: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson