The England cricket team received a major boost on Monday as their superstar all-rounder Ben Stokes announced his return for the upcoming Ashes series. In July, the Durham all-rounder took a break in July to prioritise his mental well-being.
“I had a break to prioritise my mental wellbeing and I got my finger sorted. I am looking forward to seeing my mates and being on the field with them. I’m ready for Australia,”
he said in a column for the Mirror.
Stokes last played competitive cricket on July 26, when he appeared for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred through a finger injury. He pulled out of the home Test series against India, citing a need to focus on his mental health. Stokes was also not considered for the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Stokes recently returned to low-level training after recovering from finger injury, which he picked up during Indian Premier League season and hadn’t completely healed. He will join England’s Test squad, which is set to depart for Australia on November 4.
“I feel much better about everything from my finger to my mental well-being. I know I can focus once again on playing my best cricket Down Under this winter.”
The 30-year-old also revealed that he was struggling to cope with the bubble life and the injury. However, the removal of scar tissue from his left index finger has made his return possible earlier than anticipated. He stressed the importance of conversation about mental health and appreciated his wife and close friend Joe Root for the support.
“I was in a real dark place and having some difficult thoughts. I was always one of those people who wouldn’t talk about how they are feeling and just keep it internal and crack on. I now realise talking is such a powerful thing and it has completely changed me.”
Stokes made his Test debut in Australia during 2013-14 Ashes, scoring his maiden century at Perth in his second Test. He missed the 2017-18 Ashes down under due to his involvement in a brawl outside Bristol nightclub.
