Will definitely come back in ODIs if... Stokes opens up on ODI return

After announcing his ODI retirement for the second time, it was all but confirmed that Ben Stokes, the ODI player, was never going to make a return. But within weeks of Brendon McCullum being appointed as England’s new white-ball coach, the 33-year-old has not ruled out a return for himself in the 50-over format. 

Stokes, who has worked closely with McCullum, with the duo bringing about a red-ball revolution in the country, also attested for the former Kiwi man, calling him an ‘incredible coach’. 

"It's an amazing opportunity for the white-ball team to experience what Baz has brought to the Test team," Stokes told Sky Sports during the third ODI at Chester-le-Street. 

"He's an incredible coach who speaks with utter commitment, and it's nice to have all three teams now with the same messaging and the same philosophies towards playing cricket.”

The 33-year-old also insisted that he would definitely return if McCullum made a phone call asking him to make a comeback in the 50-over format. 

"If I get the call and [Baz] says, 'do you want to come and play?' Then obviously, it's definitely going to be a yes, but I'm not going to be too disappointed if I don't, because I can just sit back and watch everyone else go out and smack it.

"I've played a lot of white-ball cricket for England, and I'm very happy with what I've achieved in that form of the game," he added. "But to be honest, we've not even spoken about anything like that whatsoever. I think he's just letting me concentrate on what I need to concentrate on, especially around the Test team."

On the red-ball side of things, Stokes’ next assignment would be against Pakistan away from home. While the last time they toured Pakistan, it was mass destruction due to their batting, the England skipper predicted that this time, there could be more ‘lively wickets’ for the pacers. 

"It's probably not until we get out there that we'll have a real understanding of it," he said. "I know that Shan Masood [Pakistan's captain] has been asking for quicker, more lively wickets for their fast bowlers. Obviously, last time we were there, they were slow, dry and spun a bit. So, we've got to go there with an open mind about what we're going to get."

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