LONDON: England all-rounder and Test captain Ben Stokes has reversed his decision to retire from ODIs to help England defend their ICC Cricket World Cup crown in India this year from October 5 onwards. Stokes has been named in the 50-over squad for the series against New Zealand at home from September 8 onwards.

Stokes, who played a major role in making England champions in the last World Cup, retired from ODIs in July 2022 during the series against South Africa to focus on Twenty20 and Tests.

England will play a white-ball series against the Kiwis at home starting with the T20I series from August 30 onwards, consisting of four T20Is and ODIs each.

Stokes returns to the England Men’s ODI set-up after deciding to reverse his decision to retire from the format while uncapped Surrey quick Gus Atkinson is included in the 15-player squad, as per an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) press release.

In 105 ODIs, Stokes has scored 2,924 runs at an average of 38.98 and a strike rate of above 95. He has three centuries and 21 fifties in 90 innings. He has also taken 74 wickets in the format with best figures of 5/61.