Ben Stokes will skip the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be co-hosted by West Indies and USA. The allrounder has opted out of world cup selection as he focuses on making a full recovery that will allow him to return to bowling at full pelt.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in a statement confirmed Stokes’ decision.
“The England Test captain’s primary focus is to get fully fit to bowl not only for the summer of Test cricket, which includes two three-match Test series’ against West Indies and Sri Lanka respectively, but for all cricket in the future,” the statement read.
Stokes had undergone a knee surgery last year in hopes of addressing a longstanding fitness concern. After undergoing rehab for about two months, the England Test captain made his competitive return with the tour of India.
Although Stokes played in all five matches of the India tour, he didn’t bowl in the first four Tests but sent down five overs in the final contest played in Dharamsala.
Stokes had also opted out of the IPL players’ auction last December to manage his workload and fitness.
“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. Opting out of the IPL and the World Cup will hopefully be a sacrifice that allows me to be the all-rounder I want to be for the foreseeable future,” Stokes said in a statement.
“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,” he added.
England are the defending champions having won the title for the second time in their history when they beat Pakistan in the title clash in November 2021.
“I wish Jos (Buttler), Motty (Matthew Mott) and all the team the best of luck in defending our title,” Stokes said.
England’s will begin their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign on 4th June when they face Scotland at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. They will then play group matches against Australia, Oman, and Namibia in Barbados and Antigua before qualification for the Super 8s and knockouts.
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