ICC World Cup 2023: It Fills Rest Of The Squad With Confidence - Joe Root On Ben Stokes Returning For WC

England batter Joe Root talked opened up about all-rounder Ben Stokes coming out of retirement for the ICC World Cup 2023. He said that his presence in the team gives other teams a scare and it also fills their team with confidence.

Ben Stokes will be playing for England in the ICC World Cup 2023 as he came out of retirement in ODIs for the team’s cause. The all-rounder arguably is one of the best players to have played the game of cricket. The reason behind this is that when everyone fails he steps up and takes his side to win.

Ben Stokes retired from ODIs in July 2022, saying that it was getting difficult for him to manage all three formats. The all-rounder didn’t play for a year in this format but he also didn’t deny his team’s request to play in the World Cup. As he made the decision to come back he was in the team’s provisional squad for the tournament.

In the last two World Cups (2019 ODI World and T20 World Cup 2022), Ben Stokes was England’s man of the final. In both finals, he stepped up and played brilliant innings which ensured that England end up winning both titles.

Joe Root while talking about Ben Stokes said that England will be very confident with his return because they will be knowing that they have a proven match-winner in their team.

Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, he explained: “You know every other international team are looking thinking, ‘Damn, I thought we got rid of him!’ At the same time, it fills the rest of the squad with confidence, knowing you’ve got a proven match-winner who will always seek out those big moments. You look at the two World Cup finals we won, and he won for us.”

ICC World Cup 2023: I think, the best player we’ve ever produced as a country – Joe Root On Ben Stokes.

Joe Root further went to hail Ben Stokes for his comeback after making the team lose the T20 World Cup final in 2016. Touting him as a legend, he called the all-rounder the best player from their country.

He explained: “Even the one we lost against West Indies in 2016, he still took on the big moment – he wanted that final over. To be able to come back from that in the manner that he has and deliver some of the things he has done in an England shirt is a testament to what a legend he is in the game. Probably, I think, the best player we’ve ever produced as a country.

Ben Stokes has played 105 ODIs and has scored 2924 runs an average of 38.98 with three tons and 21 half-centuries in 105 ODIs. Apart from this he also picked 74 wickets at an average of 42.39.