ICC World Cup 2023: "Ridiculous Suggestion" - Michael Vaughan Hits Out At Tim Paine For His Statement Over Ben Stokes

England all-rounder Ben Stokes surprised many as he took back his retirement from the ODIs to join his team for the all-important ICC World Cup 2023. After he decided to unretire, he was named in the team’s provisional squad for the event. 

Ben Stokes being included in the team was not good news for Harry Brook as he was dropped from the team. The youngster has been one of the exciting talents and was expected to make it into the team because of what he has done in international cricket. 

Ben Stokes coming out of retirement didn’t go well with former Australia Test skipper Tim Paine. He said that the all-rounder’s decision to make a return was selfish. He pointed out how other players who played continuously were robbed of the opportunity.

Speaking to SEN Tasmania, he had said: “Ben Stokes coming out of one-day retirement, I found that interesting. 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’. The guys who played for 12 months, ‘Sorry, thanks. But can you go and sit on the bench because I want to play now?” 

Ben Stokes played his last ODI match in July 2022 and since then has been focusing more on Test cricket. With him being a big match player, England was reluctant to include him in the team even as a specialist batter as he has been struggling with his knee for a while now. 

ICC World Cup 2023: Ben Stokes is the most selfless cricketer – Michael Vaughan Lashes Out At Tim Paine for his comments 

Michael Vaughan however, wasn’t impressed with Tim Paine’s comment on the Ben Stokes and lashed out at him, saying that the all-rounder is the most selfless cricketer he has ever seen and it was a ridiculous suggestion from former Australia cricketer. He tweeted: 

“Ben stokes is the most selfless cricketer I have ever known .. He puts Team before himself more than any other player .. Ridiculous suggestion from Tim ..” 

Ben stokes is the most selfless cricketer I have ever known .. He puts Team before himself more than any other player .. Ridiculous suggestion from Tim .. https://t.co/jUXwzl1z2e

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 19, 2023

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.  

Ben Stokes notably was the Man of the Match in the final of the ICC World Cup 2019. He also played magnificent innings under pressure in the final of the T20 World 2023 that helped England win. In the recently concluded Ashes, he scored 405 runs at an average of 45 in five Tests.