Table of Contents
Ben Stokes has confirmed his return date for the England cricket team in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. Stokes, the renowned match-winner who played a pivotal role in England’s victory in the 2019 World Cup final, found himself battling a nagging hip problem. This injury, sustained a week before the commencement of the quadrennial event, compelled him to sit out for the initial three fixtures of the tournament.
The setbacks: losses to New Zealand and Afghanistan
In Stokes’ absence, England faced a series of challenges, including losses to New Zealand and Afghanistan. These defeats were sandwiched between a victory over Bangladesh. One of these losses was a shocking 69-run defeat to Afghanistan in Delhi, marking one of the most significant upsets in the history of the tournament.
A glimmer of hope: Ben Stokes unveils his return date for England
In a glimmer of hope for the defending champions, star all-rounder Stokes has made a significant declaration. He has declared himself fit for selection, indicating his readiness to return to the field for England’s upcoming World Cup fixture against South Africa in Mumbai. The English stalwart shared his frustration at having to miss out on a crucial tournament like the World Cup and his current position to make a comeback.
“It was a frustrating little niggle to get before the World Cup tournament, but I have worked hard to get back to where I am now and make myself ready to be available for selection,” Stokes was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo
“We have had a few days off since the last game against Afghanistan and the first training session here in Mumbai. I will give it a good push, but, yes, I think everything is pretty good. I am in a good place,” the 32-year-old added.
Also WATCH: Ravindra Jadeja takes a flying stunner during IND vs BAN clash; pulls off a special ‘medal’ celebration
Looking beyond the Afghanistan loss
While the defeat against Afghanistan was undoubtedly disappointing, Stokes, in his statement, emphasized that all is not lost for Jos Buttler‘s side. It provides an outlook on England’s journey in the tournament beyond their initial setbacks.
“We are only three games into a tournament. There is still a long way to go. It [the loss to Afghanistan] was disappointing in the moment, but at the end of the day, we have lost a game of cricket in a World Cup. Everyone is going to lose games and it’s one of those things we had to deal with quickly, understand that we didn’t perform well but move on, and understand we have a lot more cricket left to play,” the Christchurch-born concluded.
