In order to defend their 50-over World Cup 2023 crown this fall, England is willing to utilize Ben Stokes as a specialist batter and take a chance on the health of fast bowler Jofra Archer.
This Tuesday, England’s selectors will choose their preliminary 18-person team for the competition in India. National white-ball coach Matthew Mott told Daily Mail Sport that two factors would be crucial before the meeting: a call from Jos Buttler to his fellow England captain Ben Stokes and an updated medical report on another hero of 2019 in Jofra Archer.
With a stunning 155, although in a losing cause at Lord’s, and an 80 that kept victory chances alive in Leeds, Ben Stokes, 32, demonstrated that his match-altering talent with the bat remained undiminished despite battling a long-term left knee ailment throughout the recent Ashes.
After the thrilling drawn series against Australia, he said “serious in-depth conversations” were needed about how to be physically prepared to bowl in India in January. However, the recommended treatment for patellar tendonitis is rest from the activity that causes the pain rather than surgery.
Ben Stokes returns for World Cup 2023?
After making irregular and unsuccessful appearances at the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the spring, Archer missed the English summer due to an elbow stress fracture but returned this week to bowl in the practice nets with his Sussex teammates.
“Jos will probably lead the way on that communication, but Ben Stokes fairly forthright with all of us. We’ll check on his interest,” Mott said of Stokes. The current England Test captain stopped playing one-day international cricket 13 months ago.
“There has not been a clear direction on what he’s going to do yet, but we are still hopeful. I’ve always said his bowling would be a bonus, but just look at what he brings with the bat, even in the field.”
“Watching him throughout the whole Ashes series, he had such a great presence. He’s done it for years when it comes to performing in one-day cricket and so he’s an invaluable commodity,” Mott said.
Ben Stokes’ ability to perform under duress led England to victory against New Zealand by the slimmest of margins at Lord’s four years ago, followed by Archer’s bowling in the Super over.
Additionally, despite being an all-rounder who helps balance the team, he has only claimed four wickets throughout this four-year World Cup cycle.
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