'I knew that I'd be playing': Ben Stokes had made up his mind on ODI return during Ashes 2023

Ben Stokes announced his return to the ODI format with a record-breaking century against New Zealand in the third ODI at The Oval on Wednesday as the hosts secured an 181-run win.

Stokes retired from ODI cricket last year citing workload management but reversed his decision before England announced their provisional squad for World Cup 2023 last month.

What is more surprising is that in July, ahead of the fifth Ashes Test, Stokes had said that he would use the time off during the World Cup to treat his chronic left knee injury.

On Thursday, Stokes revealed that he knew in July that he would be playing in ODIs but decided not to reveal it to the media.

“Obviously I’ve been asked a lot about my knee over a long period of time, so I just said that to leave it. I knew that I’d be playing in these games and potentially in the World Cup then when I said that, but it was just the easiest thing to say that and put you [the press] off the radar,” he said

Stokes’s 182 is now the highest ODI score for England in men’s ODIs. He surpassed Jason Roy’s record knock of 180 from 2018 with his innings that included 15 fours and nine sixes.

“I didn’t really know (about the record) until the bloke on the tannoy (loudspeaker) announced it – then I got out next ball,” Stokes said.

Due to the knee issues, Stokes is playing as a specialist batter and the cricketer said that the clarity has given him more freedom.

“This is the first time that I’ve been clear in my mind that that’s the one thing I can focus on,” said Stokes.

“I think over the last 18 months, every day has been, ‘will I bowl, will I not bowl?’ Now, I know that I can just focus on that… that’s my thing for the team now. Having that clarity in my head contributes to that.

“I’d prefer not to go in that early because I want to see the other lads at the top do well. I don’t think I’ve necessarily changed my approach in one-day cricket from all the years I spent at No. 5 or 6… I still think that batting at No. 4, I’ll go out with the exact same approach I had at No. 5.”