England’s star all-rounder, Ben Stokes, has announced his decision to return from retirement to join the squad for the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023. The white-ball captain, Jos Buttler, confirmed that it was entirely Stokes’ call to make a comeback for the marquee tournament, set to take place in India this October and November.
“To be honest, it was Ben’s call. You all know Ben pretty well by now – I don’t think anyone talking to him would persuade him. We had some conversations quite a while ago about it and just left it to him to come to me, basically, if he wanted to come back. We’re delighted that he feels ready to come back,” said Buttler, as quoted by India Today.
Buttler, a close friend and long-time teammate of Stokes, highlighted the freedom with which Stokes approaches such decisions.
“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,” Buttler added
