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England all-rounder Ben Stokes who played his first match of World Cup 2023 against South Africa was spotted using an inhaler during a training session at M.Chinnasway Stadium, Bengaluru on October 25.
Stokes missed the first three matches as he was struggling with a hip niggle. Defending champions England’s chances of making it into the last four are slim after losing three out of four matches.
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Meanwhile, no report suggests that Stokes is suffering from any health issues in the ongoing World Cup. However, using an inhaler is not uncommon, and players. Often, players use it for respiratory issues or asthma induced by rigorous exercises.
Earlier, former England skipper Joe Root in a press conference in Bengaluru said that air quality in Mumbai was poor.
“I’ve not played in anything like that before. I’ve obviously played in hotter conditions, and probably more humid conditions. But it just felt like you couldn’t get your breath. It was like you were eating the air. It was unique,” Root said.
He tried to justify his point by giving Heinrich Klaasen's example who struggled with the Mumbai heat during his 67-ball 109.
You could see it with Klaasen. You could see how much it took out of him, not being able to get back out onto the field,” said Root.
“I mean you couldn’t get away from it. You walk out onto the field and your shirt’s soaking wet, and you have a lot heavier breath than you would do, and you know you’ve done your fitness and stuff, it’s not like you’re short on that. So you are very aware of it.”
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are placed seventh and eighth on the points table with just one win from four games. The last time England faced Sri Lanka was in 2019 World Cup.
In the clash at Headingley, Leeds, Stokes remained stranded on an unbeaten 82 while he ran out of partners in the unsuccessful run chase. England could not chase down the target of 233 despite Stokes' heroics as Lasith Malinga starred with a four-fer.
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