Chris Woakes praised Ben Stokes as "superhuman" following Stokes' record-breaking 182 against New Zealand, sending a warning to their World Cup rivals.

Stokes achieved England's highest-ever one-day international score in just his third inning since coming out of a year-long retirement from the format.

With England's 50-over World Cup defence commencing in less than three weeks, Stokes' performance showcased that he remains a match-winning force in white-ball cricket, having previously led them to victory in the 2019 final.

Stokes decimated New Zealand with nine sixes and 15 fours, inspiring an 181-run victory ahead of the series finale at Lord's on Friday.

Woakes commented, "We clearly view Ben as a superhuman capable of incredible feats. We know he's capable of it."

"It was fantastic for both the team and Ben. He's an exceptional cricketer, but returning to the team after retirement will boost his confidence immensely.

"We all have doubts and performance anxiety from time to time, so it's a significant confidence boost for him and the team. It reinforces our belief that we can achieve formidable scores.

"It was a privilege to witness and be part of that game because it was an extraordinary inning.

"He struck the ball cleaner than anyone else on the field. It exemplifies his exceptional skills."

Stokes had taken a break from 50-over cricket last year due to workload concerns, but he has since revitalised England's Test team, particularly under coach Brendon McCullum.

His remarkable role in the Ashes series draw against Australia earlier this year highlighted his qualities as an inspirational leader.

However, Woakes believes that returning to the ODI squad under Jos Buttler's captaincy and focusing on his batting rather than being an all-rounder is a positive development for Stokes.

"I think returning to this team is probably refreshing for him, without the added responsibility of captaincy. Leading the England Test team is a demanding job," Woakes stated.

"He probably sees this as a breath of fresh air, allowing him to play his natural game and be himself, as he always does.

"This group of players, who have been part of this team for an extended period, always feels comfortable when we reunite."