Latest Cricket News: No Ben Stokes At ODI World Cup 2023, Here’s The Reason WHY

England captain Ben Stokes has said that he won't rethink his decision to retire from ODI cricket.

England Test captain Ben Stokes. (Photo: AP)

The ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 will miss the presence of England Test skipper and Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Ben Stokes. The was speculation that the England all-rounder may take a ‘U-turn’ on his decision to retire from ODI cricket and help England defend their title in India.

Stokes helped England to success at last year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia and many hoped he would come out of ODI retirement to help his country try and emulate their efforts in the shortest format and defend their 50-over World Cup title in India. But Stokes, who announced his retirement from ODIs last year in July, said he remains retired from 50-over cricket and that he was looking forward to taking a break after the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval that commences on Thursday.

“I’m retired. I'm going on holiday after this game and that’s as far as I’m thinking," Stokes reiterated, as quoted by the ICC.

Stokes hurt his knee during England’s tour of New Zealand at the start of the year and managed to play just two matches for the Chennai Super Kings at this year’s edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season. The knee issue has restricted the star all-rounder to bowling only 29 overs in the Ashes and did not bowl during the two recent Tests at Headingley and Old Trafford but has already produced some superb individual efforts with the bat during the Ashes series.

Ben Stokes' Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/kFllbBvNQL — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 27, 2023

Stokes admitted the fact he is unable to bowl because of his knee concern is making him consider whether or not to get surgery at the completion of the Ashes, with England's next Test series not scheduled until they travel to India to take on Rohit Sharma's side at the start of 2024.

“It’s something I obviously want to get sorted,” Stokes said when asked if he would consider going under the knife. “The times in which I've seen specialists and stuff like that there has been cricket around. So, as it's been manageable, we've just cracked on.

“But I think that is a good time to have some serious conversations with medics around what is potentially something I could do to get a role in which I can bowl without having to worry about my knee. Those are conversations we will be able to have in that time off,” he said.

Stokes further said he hoped to captain England in the next Ashes series in Australia at the end of 2025.

“I mean obviously how this series has gone and how close we were it does make you think when we go to Australia do we have a better chance than the last few times we’ve been there? Hopefully, it’d be nice to go out to Australia in 2025 and have a good chance of winning,” he said.