To concentrate on his fitness, Ben Stokes has withdrawn from the forthcoming T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies. Stokes, who guided England to victory in the previous edition’s Australian final with an unbroken fifty, has stated that he plans to get back to full fitness before bowling again and has requested that the ECB not consider him for selection.
Due to a knee injury he suffered during the previous season, Stokes was unable to bowl in the last three home Ashes Test matches against Australia. He made himself eligible to compete in the World Cup in India despite having earlier declared his retirement from ODIs, however he played as a pure hitter. After the competition was over, the 32-year-old had surgery, and he was now in a race against time to get to the Test series in India.
Stokes did not bowl until the last Test match in Dharamsala, despite having started softly bowling in the nets at some time during the series. In order to bowl during England’s home summer matches against the West Indies and Sri Lanka, Stokes is now aiming to return to the County Championship as an all-rounder.
“I’m working hard and focusing on building my bowling fitness back up to fulfil a full role as an all-rounder in all formats of cricket,” Stokes stated. “Ideally, skipping the World Cup and the IPL will be a sacrifice that enables me to play all-round cricket for the foreseeable future.
“After having knee surgery and going nine months without bowling, the current Test series against India made clear how far behind I was in terms of bowling. Before our Test summer begins, I’m excited to play for Durham in the County Championship. I’m wishing the team, Jos [Buttler], and Motty [Matthew Mott] well in defending the title.”
England’s title defence against Scotland will begin on June 4 in Barbados. Namibia, Australia, and Oman are also members of their organization.
