Nasser Hussain, a former captain of England, believes that the choice that Ben Stokes made to retire from one-day international cricket at the age of 31 should serve as a wake-up call for the administration. On Tuesday (July 19), the all-rounder competed in his farewell One-Day International (ODI) at Durham, which was contested against South Africa.
Stokes decided to leave the 50-over format because he was unable to play for the national team in all three forms while still participating in franchise cricket. He cited this limitation as the reason for his decision. His assertion that it is “unsustainable” for him to compete in all three forms puts to light the packed agenda that the squad has coming up soon. The 2023-2027 ICC Future Tour Programme (FTP) itinerary calls for England to play in a total of 42 tests, 44 one-day internationals, and 52 twenty-over internationals.
What did Nasser Hussain say about Ben Stokes’ retirement?
According to Nasser Hussain, a player should not be pressured into retiring from a certain format at the age of 31, regardless of the format. In the column that he writes for the Daily Mail, the former captain wrote:
“His choice was something of a yell to the administration since at the age of 31 someone like him shouldn’t have to retire from a given format,” said Nasser Hussain.
Hussain added: “He brought up the aspect earlier this year when England was playing Ashes cricket in Australia at the same time as a white-ball side was on the other side of the planet, playing T20 versus West Indies.”
The ODI cricket is taking a back seat
The 50-over format is frantically clutching on to gain significance, and Stokes’ departure has inflicted yet another blow in its chances at a key point. The One-Day International format has been in a trance for some time now because of the rise of Twenty20 cricket, which emphasizes glamour and glam, and Test cricket, which emphasizes values and tradition.
In his article, Hussain asserts that Twenty20 and Test cricket are putting the One-Day International format in the shade.
“While test match cricket is something you love and despise in equal measure due to the toll it takes on your body, Twenty20 is more profitable, opens doors to chances with franchises, and is shorter and more succinct. It is a struggle of the mind that pushes you to the exact boundaries of your capabilities.”
Stokes is the current captain of the England Test team, and it is quite probable that his decision to step away from the One-Day International circuit will help him extend his career. Because of his participation in Twenty20 tournaments, he is now eligible to be considered for franchise cricket all over the world, and the FTP calendar has created a distinct timeline only for that purpose.
