STOKES IS CAGEY ON 50 OVERS

BEN STOKES has not ruled out a return to England colours to help defend the 50-over World Cup in India – just don’t ask him about it now.

That was the mistake England managing director Rob Key made when he tried to broach the subject in Abu Dhabi with Stokes’ mind totally focused on the upcoming Test tour to Pakistan.

The Test skipper “just walked away” having just delivered a T20 World Cup into the ECB trophy cabinet to go with the 50-over version he did most to secure back in 2019.

Since then though Stokes has been through the wringer – physically and mentally – and decided he could not give his best if he continued to play all formats.

That is why just weeks before the T20 tournament Down Under he said he was retiring from 50-over cricket.

The huge demands on all-format players are too great to be able to play consistently across them all for England.

And when you add in the understandable desire to take advantage of the huge sums of money available in franchise tournaments such as the IPL, it becomes too much.

Something has to give, and with Stokes keen to re-enter the IPL auction after missing out last year, it was 50-over cricket that had to make way.

But white-ball coach Matthew Mott is keen to have Stokes parachuted into the squad late next year ahead of the tournament in India.

So there may be a way back for the all-rounder, if things align for him and whiteball captain Jos Buttler makes a timely request.

Stokes said: “Keysy pulled me to the side in the UAE and as soon as he said ‘50-over World Cup’ I just walked away. When it comes to the World Cup next year, who knows?

“It’s one of those things. Who knows how I might feel towards a World Cup at the time. Going to a World Cup is amazing, to represent your country. But at the moment I’m not even thinking about that.”