Former Australian Test skipper Tim Paine has lashed out at England Test captain Ben Stokes for popping out of ODI retirement to play within the World Cup, saying he can not simply “pick” and “choose” occasions.
Stokes, 32, had introduced his ODI retirement in July final 12 months, saying enjoying three codecs had turn into “unsustainable” for him. But he lately got here out of retirement to be included within the 15-member England squad to play a limited-overs fixture in opposition to New Zealand at house, which is a preparatory sequence for the World Cup in India.
While England is worked up concerning the all-rounder’s return to the ODI aspect forward of the World Cup in India from October 5, Paine indicated Stokes was being egocentric.
“Ben Stokes coming out of one-day retirement, I found that interesting,” Paine stated on Sen Radio.
“It was a bit of, ‘Me, me, me’, there isn’t it? It was, ‘I’ll pick and I’ll choose where I want to play and when I want to play’, and, ‘I’ll play in the big tournaments’.” Paine opined that England cricketers, who had been slogging for 12 months ready to play within the World Cup, must sit out to make means for Stokes.
ALSO READ | Bazball left Australians scratching their head throughout Ashes: Ricky Ponting
“The guys who played for 12 months, ‘Sorry, thanks. But can you go and sit on the bench because I want to play now?’,” stated Paine.
Stokes has additionally been included within the 15-member squad to face touring New Zealand within the limited-overs sequence in September and is more likely to play as a specialist batter as bowling aggravates his continual knee harm.
The England cricket board’s determination to incorporate Stokes for the New Zealand sequence had come on the expense of Harry Brook, indicated Paine.
Brook, who turned the quickest participant to compete 1,000 Test runs on a per-ball foundation — he took 1,058 balls to attain the feat — has didn’t discover a place within the squad.
“I don’t know, he’s (Stokes) not bowling. Harry Brook or Ben Stokes? As a bat. It would be very close, very, very close.” Paine, although, admitted that reigning ODI World Cup champions England will enter the upcoming showpiece as favourites alongside hosts India.
“Probably (England is now favourites), them and India. I think the Aussies if they can get hot (they can also win),” added Paine.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com