Paul Collingwood believes that England have left a World Cup-winning weapon at home by omitting Ben Stokes from the squad for the upcoming tournament.
The Durham all-rounder hit an unbeaten 151 off 86 balls for England Lions in their victory over South Africa A on Monday.
Stokes also impressed with the bat in the Big Bash League this winter, scoring 77 off 37 balls for Melbourne Renegades, and made 164 batting at three for Durham in the Royal London Cup semi-final in September.
Former England captain Collingwood, a teammate of Stokes at Chester-le-Street, has insisted that this top-order role is what suits the 23-year-old and has ridiculed his use at number eight in the recent series with Sri Lanka.
He told BBC Sport: "The thing that frustrates me is that England were batting him in the number eight position. You've got to play him in the right position - whether that be four, five or six - and allow him to win games from that position.
"You've got a guy here who - if he came good - he could've won you the World Cup. He could have won three or four games. By himself.
"What England did with him is like telling Cristiano Ronaldo to play at right-back. He could've won you the World Cup."
Stokes has averaged seven with the bat and 46 with the ball in international cricket since February 2014.
The World Cup starts on February 14, when England face co-hosts Australia in Melbourne.
Joe Fish
