Steve Harmison has tipped England to retain the World Cup, with the two-time Ashes winner claiming Jos Buttler's side would have had little chance without talisman Ben Stokes.
Stokes was named player of the match in the final four years ago, with his unbeaten 84 helping England win the tournament for the first time in a dramatic final against New Zealand at Lord's. However, the 32-year-old decided to retire from ODI cricket last year due to the "unsustainable" schedule.
But after Stokes played a key role in England's T20 World Cup win, getting them over the line with 52 not out in the final against Pakistan, white-ball coach Matthew Mott said he would try to tempt him back to ODI cricket ahead of this year's World Cup in India. And Stokes has answered the call, reversing his decision in a bid to try and help England retain their crown.
Due to a long-term knee issue he will only be playing as a specialist batter and while Harmison admits that is a "huge blow" for England, he feels Stokes will be "invaluable" throughout the tournament. "It's a huge blow he can't bowl, but it's a huge positive that he's there," Harmison said, speaking exclusively to Mirror Sport on behalf of OnlineCricketBetting.
"The big blow would've been him not coming. I've said many times, Ben is the best situation player I've ever seen play cricket. They're going to need Ben in tight situations, we've seen that in World Cup finals in 2019 and in Australia last year.
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"I don't think England could win the World Cup without Ben. If England are in a tense situation, having somebody like Ben Stokes who plays those situations very well will be massively valuable in those types of games.
"Those games are where World Cups are won and lost, so to have his experience, know-how and X-factor is invaluable. When captains talk at the toss and Jos Buttler says 'here's my team' and it's got Ben Stokes in that's massive.
"It's like Virat Kohli for India or Babar Azam for Pakistan. When you look at what Ben Stokes has done in World Cup knockouts and World Cup finals it's hard to look past that name. If Ben Stokes has a good World Cup then England have got a chance."
Harmison named England, India, Pakistan and New Zealand as the four teams he expects to reach the semi-finals, with the 44-year-old ultimately backing England to lift the trophy once again. "I think New Zealand just pip both Australia and South Africa (to a semi-final spot)," he explained.
"I think they've got a well-balanced side, a bit like England. They've got quite a lot of bases covered and an experienced batting unit. I think Pakistan have got a very, very good chance of making the semi-finals, if not the final.
Steve Harmison believes Stokes will be "invaluable" for England, despite only playing as a specialist batter (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)"India have got a lot of batters who don't bowl and a lot of bowlers who don't bat. If India don't end up winning and they crack under pressure in the semi-final or the final, which they can do, then I think it's England's to win.
"I really think England have got a great chance of winning this World Cup. It would be a fitting end to a lot of international careers because I don't see Jonny (Bairstow) playing after this World Cup, I don't see (Dawid) Malan getting to another World Cup, (Joe) Root, Stokes and Buttler possibly not either.
"You look down the list and there's a lot of players who are going to be playing their last World Cup. I've got a sneaky feeling that England are going to do it. I really do have a sneaky feeling that India might just crack under pressure in the semi-final and England will go on and win it."
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