Stokes was named in England’s preliminary squad for the 50-overs World Cup, confirming a return to the ODI format, from which he had retired in July 2022. By November last year, though, whispers of a possible reversal were already in the air, and the decision was finally made earlier this week, less than two months before the start of the global event.

England’s World Cup hero in 2019, and one of the most celebrated all-rounders of the modern game, Stokes’ decision to return has excited many. But not everyone’s convinced by the manner of the U-turn, including former Australia Test captain Paine.

“Ben Stokes coming out of one day retirement, I found that interesting,” Paine told SEN Tassie. “It was a bit of, ‘Me, me, me’, there isn’t it? It was, ‘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’.”

Stokes last ODI came just before the announcement in July – since then, England have played 11 one-dayers. Among those who missed out from the 15-member list is 24-year-old Harry Brook, whose exclusion was termed “the hardest decision” by selector Luke Wright.

“The guys who played for 12 months, ‘Sorry, thanks. But can you go and sit on the bench because I want to play now?’”

With Stokes likely to play as a specialist batter, given his long-standing knee issues, Paine wasn’t sure if it was the right decision to have him over Brook.

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