England's Test captain Ben Stokes means business ahead of the Test series against India and the Ashes 2025-26. Stokes suffered a hamstring injury on New Zealand tour and has not played competitive cricket since. In order to aid his rehabilitation, Stokes has quit alcohol. He hasn't had a drink in more than four months.
"After my first major injury, I remember the shock of it and after the initial adrenaline had stopped I was thinking, 'How has this happened?'" Stokes who had a hamstring surgery in December 2024, told the Untapped podcast.
"(I thought) 'We did have a bit of a drink four or five nights ago, could that have played a part?' It wouldn't have helped.
"Then I was like 'OK, I need to start changing what I do'."
Stokes has had trouble with his hamstring of late. During the Hundred 2024, he tore his hamstring playing for Harry Brook-led Northern Superchargers. The injury happened when Stokes increased his workload on New Zealand tour.
"I don't think I'll ever be completely sober, but I've not had a drink since January 2. I said to myself: 'Not until I finish my injury rehab and get back on the field'," the England all-rounder added.
Major Test series ahead for Stokes
After nearly five months, Stokes will make his comeback to competitive cricket when England take on Zimbabwe in a four-day Test starting May 22 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. It will be a followed by a gruelling five-Test series against India which will commence at Headingley, Leeds, on June 20. The Test series will conclude in the first week on August at Kennington Oval, London.
His next major assignment will be the Ashes 2025-26. The first Test will be played at Perth Stadium starting November 21. The Test series will end at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 8 or earlier.
England's Test squad
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith, Ollie Pope, James Rew, Shoaib Bashir, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts, Samuel James Cook, Josh Tongue