Stokes rules himself out of England’s Twenty20 World Cup title defence
LONDON: England Test captain Ben Stokes has ruled himself out of the team’s T20 World Cup title defence, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old will skip the tournament in the United States and the West Indies to make sure he is fit to be a fully-fledged all-rounder in Test cricket.
“Opting out of the IPL (Indian Premier League) and the (T20) 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 an ECB statement.
Stokes’ withdrawal was something of a surprise given that, when asked last month if he would participate in the T20 World Cup in June, he said he had “not even thought about that but I’m available”.
It is understood Stokes has not suffered any setbacks ater briefly returning to bowling last month during a Test tour of India, where England lost a five-match series 4-1.
There is no lingering discomfort in his let knee following surgery in November.
But although he has long been one of England’s leading multi-format cricketers, Stokes has decided to prioritise his role as Test captain.
He hopes to be able to play a full role with both bat and ball during six Tests — three against the West Indies and three against Sri Lanka — in the upcoming home season.
The first Test against the West Indies at Lord’s starts on July 10, less than two weeks ater the June 29 T20 World Cup final in Barbados.
That congested Test schedule has prompted Stokes to follow up his withdrawal from the lucrative IPL T20 franchise tournament by also pulling out of the T20 World Cup in a major blow for England white-ball captain Jos Butler and coach Mathew Mot.
“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 said.
“The recent Test tour of India highlighted how far behind I was from a bowling point of view ater 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, Moty and all the team the best of luck in defending our title.”
England begin that title defence against Scotland in Barbados on June 4, before further group matches against Australia, Oman and Namibia.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould, speaking to reporters at The Oval later Tuesday, said: “It was great to see him (Stokes) bowl in India for a short spell, but that probably has just told him how much he still needs to do in terms of his body.
“I think it’s great for English cricket he’s got that ambition and he’s had his knee sorted.
“Now he’s going to make sure that he’s back firing all cylinders because he’s still a relatively young man in terms of cricket.”
Stokes was a central figure as England won the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.
The let-handed batsman’s 42 against Sri Lanka in Sydney took England into the knockout rounds, while his unbeaten 52 — his first fity in international T20 cricket — secured victory over Pakistan in the final in Melbourne.
Stokes delayed an operation on a longstanding let knee problem to play in last year’s 50-over World Cup in India, where reigning champions England suffered an embarrassing exit before the knockout stages ater winning just three of their nine group games.
Ater undergoing surgery at the end of last year, Stokes was an ever-present in England’s defeat in India.
In Stokes’ absence, England will consider using Liam Livingstone in the No. 4 spot that he filled during their 3-2 defeat to West Indies in December - though Livingstone limped off with an apparent muscle strain while fielding for Punjab Kings on Sunday, and is waiting on scan results to determine its severity. Jamie Overton, the Surrey all-rounder, will also come into contention.
Following the Test series at home to the West Indies, England will tour Pakistan and New Zealand.
England will play a four-match T20 series against Pakistan in preparation for the World Cup.