Dropped Stokes could have won England World Cup: Collingwood
Former England captain Paul Collingwood criticised the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Tuesday, saying dropping Ben Stokes for the World Cup was a big mistake and claiming the young all-rounder could have won England the elusive trophy.
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London: Former England captain Paul Collingwood criticised the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Tuesday, saying dropping Ben Stokes for the World Cup was a big mistake and claiming the young all-rounder could have won England the elusive trophy.
England have never won the World Cup, being the beaten finalists thrice.
Comparing the 23-year-old to Portugal's talismanic footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, Collingwood said: "What England did with him is like telling Ronaldo to play at right-back. He could've won you the World Cup," he was quoted as saying bbc.com.
Collingwood, now part of the coaching staff for the Scotland cricket team also said: "The thing that frustrates me is that England were batting him in the number eight position."
"You've got to play him in the right position - whether that be four, five or six - and allow him to win games from that position. You've got a guy here who - if he came good - he could've won you the World Cup. He could have won three or four games, by himself," the 38-year-old added.
However, Stokes could still make the squad as a replacement for an injured player.
England's World Cup campaign starts Feb 14 against Australia in Melbourne.