In a big blow to England, their star all-rounder Ben Stokes has been ruled out of upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Ben Stokes has apparently has made himself unavailable for selection for this summer's T20 World Cup 2024. Notably, the showpiece tournament will be held in the West Indies and USA, starting from June 2.
Ben Stokes has opted out of England's T20 World Cup title defense to focus on regaining full bowling fitness. This strategic decision will allow him to become gain full fitness across formats in the future. Stokes' recent workload has been limited. He underwent knee surgery over the winter and bowled minimally during the Test series against India. He also skipped the IPL to prioritise his recovery. While England aim to retain their T20 World Cup title in June, Stokes has set his sights on a bigger picture. He'll utilise this break to ensure he's fully fit for the upcoming Test matches against West Indies and Sri Lanka, followed by the T20 and ODI series against Australia later in the year.
'I'm working hard and focusing on building my bowling 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, as quoted by Skysports.
“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. I wish Jos (Buttler), Motty (white-ball coach Matthew Mott) and all the team the best of luck in defending our title,” he added.
England to start T20 World Cup title defense on June 4
The quest to retain their T20 World Cup crown begins for England on June 4. England will take on Scotland at the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados in their T20 World Cup 2024's campaign opener. The group stage continues with matches against Australia, Oman, and Namibia, played across Barbados and Antigua.
Stokes makes tough call, prioritises long-term fitness
Stokes' decision to skip the T20 World Cup reflects a calculated approach to managing his fitness across formats. Having reversed his ODI retirement for the 2023 World Cup, Stokes postponed knee surgery. This limited him to minimal bowling during the recent India Test series. Opting out of the IPL further prioritized his recovery. Stokes' absence creates a selection conundrum for England. Liam Livingstone, who filled the No. 4 spot in the December West Indies series, is a potential replacement. However, a recent muscle strain has him awaiting scan results. Jamie Overton, another all-rounder, could also be considered. Stokes' limited participation in non-World Cup T20Is over the past three years, combined with this decision, might signal the end of his 43-match T20I career, which hasn't always showcased his peak performance. However, a return for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India, when he'll be 34, remains a possibility.
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