LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) declared on Tuesday that Ben Stokes, the captain of the England Test squad, would not be participating in the team’s defense of the T20 World Cup title.
The 32-year-old will not play in the West Indies and the United States to ensure he is healthy enough to play Test cricket as an all-rounder.
“I hope that opting out of the T20 World Cup and the Indian Premier League will be a sacrifice that enables me to be the all-around player I want to be for the foreseeable future,” Stokes stated in an ECB statement.
Given that Stokes had stated he had “not even thought about that but I’m available” when questioned last month about whether he would play in the T20 World Cup in June, his withdrawal came as a bit of a surprise.
It is believed that Stokes has not seen any setbacks since making a brief comeback to bowling during England’s Test tour to India last month, where the team lost a series of five matches 4-1.
He had surgery on his left knee in November, and there is no residual pain.
Nonetheless, Stokes has made the decision to put his position as Test captain first, despite the fact that he has long been one of England’s top multi-format players.
In the six Test matches that are coming up, three against Sri Lanka and three against the West Indies, he expects to be able to contribute fully with the bat and the ball.
Less than two weeks after the June 29 T20 World Cup final in Barbados, the first Test match between the West Indies and Lord’s begins on July 10.
“I’m putting a lot of effort into regaining my bowling fitness so that I can play a full role as an all-rounder in all forms of cricket,” stated Stokes.
The recent Test series against India made clear how far behind I had fallen in terms of my bowling ability following my knee surgery and my nine-month absence from the game.
“I’m excited to represent Durham in the County Championship prior to the commencement of our Test summer.”
“STARTING ALL CYLINDERS”
Speaking to media at The Oval later on Tuesday, ECB CEO Richard Gould stated: “It was great to see him (Stokes) bowl in India for a short spell, but that probably just hasn’t left him with enough physical work to do.”
“Having achieved his goal and having his knee fixed, I believe it is fantastic news for English cricket.”
“As he is still a relatively young man in cricket terms, he will now make sure that he is back firing on all cylinders.” Stokes was
key player in England’s victory at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.
The left-handed batsman’s 42 against Sri Lanka in Sydney propelled England into the knockout stages, and in the Melbourne final, his undefeated 52 (his maiden fifty in international T20 cricket) saw out Pakistan.
In order to participate in the 50-over World Cup in India last year, where the defending champion England suffered a humiliating departure in the knockout rounds after winning only three of their nine group games, Stokes postponed surgery on a long-standing left knee injury.
Following surgery towards the close of the previous year, Stokes played a crucial role in England’s loss in India.
England will tour Pakistan and New Zealand after their Test series against the West Indies at home.
