England and New Zealand gear up for ODI series with key players back

Ben Stokes and Trent Boult return as England and New Zealand gear up for ODI series

England and New Zealand will be boosted by the return of Ben Stokes and Trent Boult for their upcoming four-match ODI series, starting on Friday at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

Stokes, who retired from ODI cricket in July 2022, reversed his decision just ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup in 2023. Boult, on the other hand, has been out of action since April 2023 due to a knee injury.

The return of Stokes and Boult will be a major boost for both teams. Stokes is one of the world's best all-rounders, while Boult is one of the most feared bowlers in ODI cricket.

England will be looking to bounce back from their recent T20I series defeat to New Zealand, while New Zealand will be looking to build on their recent form.

The series is a dress rehearsal for the opening World Cup game, and both teams will be trying out different combinations to see what works best for them.

Here are some of the key players to watch out for in the series:

For England, Stokes will be the key player. He will be looking to lead the team from the front with his batting and bowling. Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler will also be important players for England.
For New Zealand, Kane Williamson will be the key player. He is the team's captain and leading batsman. Trent Boult and Tim Southee will be the key bowlers for New Zealand.