England’s star all-rounder Ben Stokes announced that he wouldn’t be participating in the upcoming T20 World Cup. This news comes as a significant setback for the team, who will be looking to defend their title in June this year.
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According to a statement released by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Stokes’ decision originates from his desire to regain full bowling fitness. He wants to be not just a batsman, but a complete all-rounder who can contribute with both bat and ball, across formats.
Here’s what Ben Stokes himself had to say:
“I’m working hard and focusing on building my bowling fitness back up to fulfil a full role as an allrounder in all formats of cricket. Opting out of the IPL and the World Cup will hopefully be a sacrifice that allows me to be the allrounder I want to be for the foreseeable future.”
He added, “The recent Test tour of India highlighted how far behind I was from a bowling point of view after my knee surgery and nine months without bowling. I’m looking forward to playing for Durham in the County Championship before the start of our Test summer. I wish Jos [Buttler], Motty [Matthew Mott] and all the team the best of luck in defending our title.”
T20 World Cup ❌
Ben Stokes will play no part in this summer's tournament 🏆
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) April 2, 2024
However, the future remains bright for Ben Stokes. He plans to use the County Championship to regain his bowling form before the crucial summer Test season kicks off. This season includes two three-match Test series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.
Despite his absence, the ace all-rounder remains optimistic about England’s chances in the T20 World Cup. He wished his teammates, captain Jos Buttler, coach Matthew Mott, and the entire team the very best in defending their title.
England’s T20 World Cup Defence
England’s T20 World Cup defence is set to begin on June 4th. Their first match will be against Scotland at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Following that, they will face off against strong contender Australia, and then Oman, and Namibia in both Barbados and Antigua. Only the top teams will qualify for the Super 8s and knockout stages.
A Look Back at Stokes’ Heroics
Cricket fans will fondly remember Stokes’ heroics in the 2022 T20 World Cup final against Pakistan. He not only smashed his first T20I half-century but also scored the winning run, securing a thrilling 5-wicket victory for England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The Road Ahead for Ben Stokes and England
Although missing the T20 World Cup is a bold decision, Stokes is confident it’s the right step toward achieving his long-term goal of being a complete all-rounder. This sacrifice could prove crucial in ensuring his future success and contribution to the English cricket team across all formats.
Meanwhile, England will have to adjust their strategies for the T20 World Cup without their star all-rounder. The 9th edition of the tournament kicks off on June 1st, jointly hosted by the USA and West Indies. Can they defend their title without Ben Stokes? Only time will tell.
