‘But he was produced in New Zealand’ – Fans react as Joe Root believes Ben Stokes is probably best player England have ever produced

England’s star allrounder Ben Stokes shocked the cricket universe when he decided to make a U-turn as he came out of his ODI retirement to take part in the upcoming World Cup 2023. Stokes decided to hang up his boots from the 50-over format to manage his workload but the 2019 World Cup hero for the English side is now back again to help his team to defend the title.

Stokes is currently the captain of the English side and also plays in the T20 format. However, it is expected that Stokes’s experience will be very beneficial for his side in the major world tournament. Meanwhile, former England captain and veteran batter Joe Root, who shares a close bond with Stokes, recently said that his comeback has filled the team with confidence.

“You know every other international team are looking thinking, ‘Damn, I thought we got rid of him!’ At the same time, it fills the rest of the squad with confidence, knowing you’ve got a proven match-winner who will always seek out those big moments,” Root was quoted as saying by India Today.

You look at the two World Cup finals we won, and he won for us: Joe Root

Root also believes that Stokes is the best player England have ever produced in its history. He recalled some heroics of Stokes where he helped the team to win 2 major World Cup finals. He also talked about the 2016 T20 World Cup final where he conceded 4 consecutive sixes in the final over against West Indies and said that making a comeback from that makes him a legend.

“You look at the two World Cup finals we won, and he won for us. Even the one we lost against West Indies in 2016, he still took on the big moment – he wanted that final over. To be able to come back from that in the manner that he has and deliver some of the things he has done in an England shirt is a testament to what a legend he is in the game. Probably, I think, the best player we’ve ever produced as a country,” he said.

Here’s how fans reacted:

https://twitter.com/anngrypakiistan/status/1693909546803036669?s=20