Former Australia Ashes-winning captain and wicketkeeper-batter, Tim Paine didn't mince his words and launched a scathing attack on England Test captain Ben Stokes for his decision to take a U-turn on ODI retirement. The England all-rounder, who decided to give up ODIs due to workload and a constant battle with a knee injury, has been named in the Three Lions provisional squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Paine targeted Stokes for being 'selfish' and dictating things as per his convenience. The ex-Aussie cricketer further criticised Stokes as his inclusion led to Harry Brook's omission from the provisional squad.
"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," Paine told SEN Radio.
"It was like '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?'," he said.
Stokes played a crucial role in England's World Cup triumph in 2019 and his impact on big games is second to none. Having said that, the right-arm medium pacer has been dealing with a knee injury for a long time that has hampered him from bowling full throttle. Even if Stokes makes it to England's main squad for the quadrennial competition in India later in the year, there are high of chances of the all-rounder playing as a pure batter.
"I don't know, he's not bowling. Harry Brook or Ben Stokes? As a bat. It would be very close, very, very close," Paine said.
The Three Lions are scheduled to play seven ODIs before the warm-up matches for the ODI World Cup begin. As defending champions, England will enter the competition as one of the favourites to lift the glittering silverware once again. And if selected, Stokes might just prove to be the difference-maker once again.
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