'It was a bit of, ‘Me, me, me’, and...' - Former Aussie skipper lashes out at Ben Stokes for coming back from ODI retirement for ODI World Cup 2023

Former Australian Test captain Tim Paine has come all guns blazing on the current England Test skipper Ben Stokes for revoking his retirement from ODIs to play the ODI World Cup 2023 in India. Paine said that it was a selfish move from Stokes. He also pointed out that it will be an injustice to any guy who was preparing for the last 12 months and will lose his spot now just because a veteran wants to come back and play in the World Cup.

Notably, Stokes hung his boots in the ODI format last year on the 18^th of July and played his last ODI for England against South Africa last year on the 19^th of July. Since then, he remained active for The Three Lions in the longest format of the game as captain. Apart from that, he also played in the T20Is for his side.

"It was like 'I'll pick and I'll choose where I want to play." - Tim Pain on Ben Stokes

"Ben Stokes coming out of one-day retirement, I found that interesting. It was a bit of, 'Me, me, me', there isn't it? It was," said Tim Paine to SEN Radio.

"It was like 'I'll pick and I'll choose where I want to play and when I want to play', and, 'I'll play in the big tournaments'. The guys who played for 12 months, 'Sorry, thanks. But can you go and sit on the bench because I want to play now?'" he added.

Furthermore, Paine also compared the bowling and batting possibilities between Harry Brook and Ben Stokes as the former was dropped from the England squad for the ODIs against New Zealand after Stokes decided to unretire from the format.

“I don't know, he's not bowling. Harry Brook or Ben Stokes? As a bat. It would be very close, very, very close," said Paine.

Notably, the Jos Buttler-led English side will take on South Africa in five ODIs followed by three-match ODI series against Ireland next month before moving forward for the 13^th edition of the ODI World Cup, in India.