Door is open for Ben Stokes to come out of ODI retirement: Matthew Mott

England white-ball coach Matthew Mott has said that the "door is open" for Test skipper Ben Stokes to give up ODI retirement and represent the English side in the upcoming 50-over World Cup 2023 in India.

Stokes bid adieu to ODI cricket in July 2022, citing that playing all three formats was just "unsustainable" for him. But, the batter had vowed to "give everything" to Test cricket and his "total commitment" to the T20 format.

However, the talismanic all-rounder didn't rule out a return to the format and hinted that he could be playing at the upcoming ODI World Cup next year.

"Who knows how I might feel towards a World Cup at the time," Stokes said in December last year after England were crowned champions of the T20 World Cup in Australia.

Meanwhile, England coach Mott has said he will welcome the 31-year-old and is eager to wait on his decision.

"The door is always open for a player of that quality, but we are also very aware that his main focus is red-ball cricket as the captain. We respect that, and when he's ready to chat, we'll do that," Mott said, speaking before England's three-match ODI series against South Africa.

When England defeated New Zealand in a thrilling extra over to win the 2019 World Cup final, Stokes was named man of the match.

"I've had some good discussions with Jos [Buttler, captain] and Rob Key [director of England men's cricket] on this. What we've worked out, as you will see on this tour, is that players are playing a lot of franchise cricket, coming in and out at different times, so we need to keep a really flexible, open mind to players and when we sit down to pick that 15 for the World Cup, we want to pick the best players possible," Mott said when asked if Stokes would be given a deadline to make his decision.

England won't have played a Test match for more than two months by the time of the World Cup, which will take place in October and November.

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