On April 2, England’s standout athlete Ben Stokes announced his withdrawal from the forthcoming T20 World Cup, stating that his decision is a “sacrifice” aimed at prioritizing his recovery to bowl at full capacity and fulfill his ambition of remaining an all-rounder in the foreseeable future.
The Test captain of the country has notified the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) of his choice, two months prior to the showcase event set to take place in the USA and West Indies.
“I am diligently working and concentrating on enhancing my bowling fitness to meet the demands of being a complete all-rounder across all formats of cricket.
“In choosing to opt out of both the IPL and the World Cup, I hope that this sacrifice will pave the way for me to become the all-rounder I aspire to be in the foreseeable future,” Stokes remarked in a statement released by the ECB.
Stokes, aged 32, led the team during the Test series against India earlier this year, where they suffered a 1-4 loss. Reflecting on the tour, he admitted that it made him realize his bowling capabilities were not at the desired level.
“The recent Test tour of India underscored the extent to which I lagged behind in terms of my bowling prowess following my knee surgery and a nine-month hiatus from bowling.
“I eagerly anticipate representing Durham in the County Championship prior to the commencement of our Test summer. My sincere best wishes to Jos (Buttler), Motty (Matthew Mott), and the entire team as they strive to defend our title.” England will be defending their championship in the Caribbean after claiming victory in the previous tournament held in Australia in 2022. Stokes secured the winning run in the final, leading England to a five-wicket triumph over Pakistan at the MCG.
However, he has only participated in two T20 matches since then, both during last year’s IPL.
After retiring from ODI cricket in 2022, Stokes reversed his decision to compete in the 50-over World Cup last year in India. Subsequently, he underwent knee surgery, which prevented him from bowling in the Test series against India. During the series in India, he managed to bowl only five overs across five matches.
