Paine hits out at Stokes for popping out of ODI retirement to play in World Cup

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’t simply “pick” and “choose” occasions.

Stokes, 32, had introduced his ODI retirement in July final yr, saying enjoying three codecs had develop into “unsustainable” for him. But he just lately got here out of retirement to be included within the 15-member England squad to play a limited-overs fixture towards New Zealand at dwelling, which is a preparatory collection for the World Cup in India.

While England is happy 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 mentioned 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 method for Stokes.

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“The guys who played for 12 months, ‘Sorry, thanks. But can you go and sit on the bench because I want to play now?’,” mentioned Paine.

Stokes has additionally been included within the 15-member squad to face touring New Zealand within the limited-overs collection in September and is prone to play as a specialist batter as bowling aggravates his power knee damage.

The England cricket board’s determination to incorporate Stokes for the New Zealand collection 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 realize the feat — has did not 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.