Photo courtesy: Twitter and IANS
The choice of all-rounder Ben Stokes to resume his ODI career and play in the ODI World Cup later this year as a specialist batter has reportedly significantly changed the dynamic of the team, according to Jos Buttler, captain of England’s white-ball squad. Buttler further talks about how Harry Brook still has chance to make it into the team.
Ben Stokes, who won Player of the Match honours during the thrilling 2019 Men’s ODI World Cup final at Lord’s, will play 50-over cricket once again to support England in their title defence in India from October 5 to November 19.
Buttler also discussed Stokes’ role in the team, stating that he will give the team batting depth and the ability to bowl a few overs. “Of course, Ben Stokes coming back and being available just as a batter sort of changes the dynamic a little bit. Ben’s a fantastic player to be able to welcome back, so it’s a really tough selection,” Jos Buttler was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
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Harry Brook dropped for Stokes
One of the main talking points around Stokes’ ODI selection has been that Harry Brook, an intriguing young hitter, was left off the team as a result of Stokes’ selection. Buttler, the captain of England’s white-ball team, asserts that Brook has a chance to rejoin the squad.
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Buttler while talking about Harry Brook’s chances of getting back into the team said, “There’s still a long time before everyone is meant to get on the plane, so we’ll wait and see what happens. We all know Harry’s a fantastic player and we saw what he can do the other night. It’s not like it’s a surprise: we know what a brilliant player he is, he’s just the unfortunate one at the moment to not be in that squad at the moment.”
In the current Men’s Hundred 2023, Brook scored 105 runs in 42 deliveries to lead Northern Superchargers to an 8-wicket victory over Welsh Fire on Tuesday.
He will take part in the 15-person team’s four-match T20 International series against New Zealand beginning on August 30. Ben Stokes, the team’s World Cup hero in 2019, reversed roles and came out of retirement to defend the title.
Does England have a problem of plenty?
A player of Harry Brook’s level being left off the team, according to English wicketkeeper captain Buttler, speaks volumes about the calibre of the team as a whole. Buttler said, “We’re blessed with a lot of strength in depth and talent. (There are) excellent players not in that provisional squad at the moment. It’s been the nature of England squads in the white-ball teams over the last few years really, which is a great sign for us. They’re good problems to have.”
England’s provisional squad for the World Cup: Jos Buttler (captain), 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.
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