In a stunning twist of fate, Ben Stokes, the former member of England’s one-day squad, left the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in the rearview mirror to deliver a record-breaking performance on the cricket pitch. Stokes, having reversed his one-day retirement, unleashed a jaw-dropping innings of 182, shattering the record for the highest score by an England batter in a One Day International (ODI) match.
“I was a bit sour about missing the PGA, but I basically played golf today, so I was alright,” Stokes quipped, making light of his extraordinary feat with the bat.
The scene was set at The Oval, a place where Stokes had previously evaded journalists’ questions regarding his post-Ashes plans. Just one day before the final Ashes Test against Australia, Stokes had announced that he would not be available for the upcoming World Cup, citing the need to address his left knee issues.
It was a cunning ruse. Even then, Stokes had already set the wheels in motion for his 50-over comeback, timed perfectly for England’s title defense at the World Cup in India this October and November. His poker face remained impeccable throughout.
“It was, wasn’t it?” he chuckled when asked about his deception. “I’d been bombarded with questions about my knee for a long time. I knew I’d be playing in these games and potentially the World Cup. I said that to keep you all off the radar.”
Despite his troublesome knee, England now welcomes Stokes as a formidable batter, foregoing his role as an all-rounder. His remarkable performance at The Oval serves as a resounding endorsement of why captain Jos Buttler insisted on Stokes’s inclusion in the World Cup squad.
This marked only the tenth time in Stokes’s 108-match ODI career that he batted in the number four position. With the added responsibility, he delivered the second-highest score by a batter batting at four or lower in men’s ODIs, surpassed only by the legendary Viv Richards’ unforgettable 189 not out against England in 1984.
“It’s the first time I’ve been clear in my mind that is the one thing I can focus on,” Stokes remarked. “Over the past 18 months, every day has been: ‘Will I bowl? Will I not bowl?’ I know I can just focus on the batting. That’s my role for the team now. Having that clarity in my head helps.”
This newfound clarity propelled Stokes to his fastest ODI century, achieved in just 76 balls and his first since 2017. He smashed 15 fours and nine sixes in his 124-ball onslaught, propelling England to a commanding total of 368 all out. The result? A resounding victory by 181 runs, giving England a 2-1 series lead.
It was fitting that this record-breaking performance unfolded against New Zealand, the country of Stokes’s birth and the opponents during his historic World Cup final heroics four years ago. The cricketing gods seemed to nod to that thrilling day at Lord’s.
New Zealand’s coach, Gary Stead, although perhaps weary of Stokes’s brilliance, admitted, “I’d rather he gets his runs now than on 5 October,” referring to the World Cup opener between the two sides next month.
Stokes’s return to one-day internationals was a spectacle, a “Stokesian” performance that announced his comeback to the world. With Ben Stokes back in the fold, England’s World Cup aspirations take flight once more. The possibilities are boundless, and the cricketing world is on the edge of their seats, ready for another chapter of World Cup magic. 🏏🔥 #BenStokes #WorldCup2022 #CricketGloryhttps://www.sportiwe.com/
