ENG vs IND: Ben Stokes pulls out of the series against India

The excitement for the five-Test series between England and India, which begins on 4th August is building up. The Test series between the two nations will also kick start the second edition of the ICC World Test Championship. Both the teams will enter the series on the back of defeats as England lost the Test series against New Zealand while Team India lost the final of WTC 2021.

Ben Stokes pulls out of the series against England 

With less than one week remaining for the start of the five-Test series between England and India, the home side has suffered a major setback as premier all-rounder Ben Stokes has decided to take an indefinite break from the game of cricket with immediate effect to concentrate on his mental health and to rest his left index finger which has not healed fully.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has brought Somerset’s Craig Overton to replace Ben Stokes in the series against India. Ben Stokes suffered finger injury during the first phase of the IPL 2021. The all-rounder played three match ODI series against Pakistan and is currently playing the Hundred tournament.

ENG vs IND: What Ashley Giles said after Ben Stokes pulled out of the series ?

Cricket in the bio-secure environment has become the norm amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though cricket has started fully but it has brought a lot of challenges for the players as they have to play, train and live in a bio-bubble secure environment and are not allowed to go outside. However, many players have raised concerns over playing regularly in bio-secure bubbles as they have to face psychological challenged and troubles with living in a bio-secure environment.

With Ben Stokes pulling out of the series against India, England’s Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, Ashley Giles said that their primary focus is the mental health and welfare of all the players under them. He admitted that spending time away from the family is extremely challenging and said that the all-rounder will be given as long as he needs.

“Ben has shown tremendous courage to open up about his feelings and wellbeing. Our primary focus has always been and will continue to be the mental health and welfare of all of our people. The demands on our athletes to prepare and play elite sport are relentless in a typical environment, but the ongoing pandemic has acutely compounded this. Spending significant amounts of time away from family, with minimal freedoms, is extremely challenging. Ben will be given as long as he needs, and we look forward to seeing him playing cricket for England in the future,” Ashley Giles said.