‘It will benefit England long-term’ – Rob Key on Stokes’ premature ODI retirement
Michael Vaughan was stunned by Ben Stokes’s sudden decision to retire from ODI cricket. He pointed fingers at the board who kept forming more T20 leagues and this action by the board was the reason for Ben Stokes’s premature retirement in ODIs at the age of 31.
Amidst all this, Robert Key, the managing director of England cricket, has stated that Ben Stokes retiring from ODI’s will help England in the long run because Stokes will be able to give his hundred percent in T20Is and Test Cricket.
He exhibited a magnificent ‘Man of the match’ performance in the World Cup final in 2019, which helped England lift the World Cup. He is set to play his final ODI against South Africa at his home ground of Chester-le-Street on Tuesday. The English all-rounder stated the current schedule means it is “unsustainable” for him to play all three formats for England.
And Key has called it a “typically selfless decision” by Stokes, claiming his retirement from ODI cricket will ensure that he goes on to “play 120-plus Tests and help England in T20 matches and World Cups for many years to come”
Key said: “Ben Stokes has had an incredible international career in ODI cricket, culminating in his match-winning performance at the 2019 World Cup final.
“I know this must have been a tough decision, but I completely understand why he has reached this conclusion.
“I’m sure that when we look back on Ben’s career and see this as one of the reasons he will play 120-plus Tests and help England in T20 matches and World Cups for many years to come. It is a typically selfless decision that will benefit England long-term.”
Interim ECB CEO Clare Connor, meanwhile, admitted Stokes would be a big loss to the ODI side but acknowledged that the current “busy calendar of cricket” and his status as Test captain made it difficult for him to play all formats. “Ben Stokes is a superstar in every format of our game,” Connor said.
