Ben Stokes is set to stage his comeback in the One-day International match against New Zealand at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens this Friday. The English all-rounder has reversed his earlier decision to retire, which he announced last month, and is now determined to represent his national side in another World Cup. Stokes, a vital member of England’s World Cup squad, will be receiving treatment for a knee injury following the upcoming mega event in India.
Ben Stokes reversed his retirement from One-day International cricket last month, yet the opportunity to represent his nation in the most prestigious event in cricket remains an immense honour. It’s worth noting that Ben Stokes has been selected to join England’s World Cup squad. Talking about his ODI comeback Ben Stokes said, “The words World Cup are pretty inspiring. The idea of going in and potentially being able to win back-to-back World Cups was one of the big things.” England will be playing a 4-match ODI series against New Zealand, and a 3-match ODI series against Ireland before travelling to India for the World Cup.
Ben Stokes, a key member of England’s World Cup squad, is set to undergo knee surgery following the mega event in India. Unfortunately, this operation might force him to miss the scheduled India tour in February and March next year. Stokes has been plagued by a persistent knee injury in recent years, which also resulted in him missing out on participating in the IPL 2023. This injury has significantly limited his ability to bowl, further complicating his situation.
Talking about his injury to BBC in a public event Ben Stokes said, “There’s quite a long time off after the World Cup. I have been having some good conversations with some specialists. There is a plan in place. When we do what we need to do to give myself a chance of getting back to being a genuine all-rounder there will be a time when I can say what I am doing. I want to be playing next summer as a genuine all-rounder. This winter is all about playing this World Cup and then getting this knee sorted.”
Stokes didn’t bowl in the last three Ashes 2023 tests as well. He was purely playing as a batter in those games.
Considering the English winter ahead, it might be a wise decision for Ben Stokes to undergo knee surgery if he continues to bat against India and then receive treatment. However, this decision might ultimately result in him missing out on the entire IPL, the T20 World Cup, and a large amount of the English summer. Stokes has indicated his strong desire to return to playing as an all-rounder during the next English summer, with a special focus on his bowling performance. It’s worth mentioning that England is going to host four visiting teams in the summer of 2024, including West Indies, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Australia.
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