Tim Paine has stood by his criticism of Ben Stokes’ decision to overturn his ODI retirement for the World Cup despite his record-breaking 182 runs during the fourth New Zealand ODI.
Stokes returned to the ODI format this month after a year-long ‘retirement’ against New Zealand and was named in England’s reserve squad for the World Cup. This week against the Black Caps, he confirmed his return with a knock of 182, the highest ever by an English male batsman in this format, but initially challenged Stokes over his choice and decision of when he wanted to play. Payne, who chanted, remained unimpressed.
“It was a little bit like ‘me, me, me’, right? There, after Stokes decided to decline his ODI retirement, Paine said, ‘I’ll choose and decide when and where I want to play. “I’m going to play in a big tournament,” he said. “To the players who played for 12 months: ‘I’m sorry, thank you, but could you please sit on the bench now because I want to play?’
Paine admitted he received a lot of tweets after Stokes’ heroics against New Zealand, replying on SEN Cricket: “He said it himself. He wants to be known as a winner.” World Championship. No problem with that. Just don’t retire. ”
When asked if Stokes had been selfish, Payne replied: I don’t like it when people do things like that [retiring and then coming back]. ”
Stokes had previously denied rumors that he might return to ODIs during this year’s Ashes, but revealed after his 182 win that a return was always a possibility. “I knew I was going to play in these games, and I probably would play in these games too. I was at the World Cup when I said that, but it’s the easiest thing to say [refusal to return]. That was the case, and you (the media) were sent off.’Radar,’ Stokes said in his post-match press conference at the Oval.
Payne said Stokes remains a gun, but no athlete should give up if they change their mind. “He retired, but reiterated that in an interview in June, saying “there is no possibility [of a return].”
Paine resigned as Australia Test captain in November 2021 after it was revealed that he had sent sexually explicit text messages to a female colleague in 2017.
