England's Test captain Ben Stokes has come out of retirement to play for England's ODI team to aid their defence of their 2019 World Cup Title.
Stokes originally retired from the ODI format last year, yet his form at the 20-over World Cup in Melbourne last year saw coach Matthew Mott and captain Jos Buttler eager to have him return to the side for the 2023 World Cup in India.
Stokes carried a knee injury through the Ashes, which will see him feature as a specialist batter in India.
England's National Selector, Luke Wright, said that they won't be pushing Stokes to bowl given his knee injury.
"It's not a simple one is it? He's coming to the World Cup and we're going to pick him as a batter. We're always assessing that as it goes, but we won't be pushing him to bowl unless he's absolutely fit and raring to go. There's still going to be a period for him to try and get this knee right, but it's obviously not an easy one," Wright said.
England won the 2019 World Cup in a thrilling finish against New Zealand, with a Super Over unable to split the two, requiring a boundary count-back rule to determine the winner, as England has scored 26 boundaries to New Zealand's 17.
Ben Stokes was an instrumental part of that match with 84 runs to his name, Wright referring to him as the man for the big moments in cricket.
"You know Stokesy, if ever there's someone for the big moments it's Ben Stokes. I think that's what it is- it's probably for him thinking it's a last chance in the 50 overs to go and win it again," Wright said.
"Who better for England to have someone like him come back for us? He loves the big moments. We're all just so happy he's back in the squad, I know it will give a big lift to the boys in that squad to have him back and we all can't wait to have him back and hopefully involved in lifting a trophy again for England."
Surrey fast bowler Gus Atkinson is in line to debut for the World Cup, taking part in the men's Hundred last week. Jofra Archer is a notable absentee from the side with a long-term elbow injury and a back stress fracture meaning he faces a race against the clock to be fit.
"Regarding the World Cup, unfortunately we're just running out of time. He's not going to come round quite quickly enough especially for the first part of the World Cup. There is a duty of care with him, we have to make sure that long-term we get it right, because we have sen hime as a huge asset for a long time," Wright said.
England will kick off the first ODI of the World Cup with a rematch against New Zealand on October 5th.
England ODI Squad
Jos Buttler (C)
Moeen Ali
Gus Atkinson
Jonny Bairstow
Sam Curran
Liam Livingstone
Dawid Malan
Ben Stokes
Reece Topley
Mark Wood
Chris Woakes
