Ben Stokes looks certain to miss England’s Twenty20 World Cup campaign next month, with head coach Chris Silverwood insisting the allrounder’s personal well-being outstrips the needs of the team.
Stokes is currently taking an indefinite leave of absence from the sport to prioritise his mental health and recover from a finger injury.
He hasn’t taken the field since July, when he captained an ODI series against Pakistan at short notice then made a brief cameo in The Hundred.
England have been careful to give him plenty of distance but with the deadline approaching for the next global tournament, clarity on his status will be required in the coming days.
The International Cricket Council needs squads to be submitted by Friday and it seems highly unlikely that Stokes will make the list of 15.
England are planning to name three standby players and the 30-year-old may not even be named on that list.
What is clear for now is that nobody around the team is pushing Stokes before he is ready.
“We are going to leave that one late, to give it our best chance. Whatever support Ben needs he will get from us,” said Silverwood.
“I haven’t spoken to him just as yet because I want to give him as much space as possible, but there are people talking to him outside of me and it is something we will be revisiting shortly.
“But I will not be putting pressure on him, will not be rushing him and whatever support he needs he will get.
“First and foremost, my only concern is for him and making sure he’s okay. That’s the starting point I will be at and the rest of the questions will come.”
England are also missing paceman Jofra Archer with injury, with Sussex teammate Tymal Mills tipped to take his spot despite spending almost four years out of the international set-up.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Not sure how you can describe the Pom’s batting lineup as solid. They’ve got one batsman who averages over 35 in test cricket, two if Stokes plays. Meanwhile, Australia has two players who average over 60, and a third close to 50. Last summer aside, we generally have a solid batting lineup at home.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
The ban I believe.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
T'was a joke Micko, disappointing he likely won't be coming.
Ian
Roar Rookie
I went to the first day of the 2006/7 series at the Gabba and was disgusted by the behaviour of the Barmy army.Before,during the days play and especially afterwards I thought they brought shame on their country.Sure,many were genuine cricket lovers having a great time on a trip of a lifetime but far,far too many were just drunken idiots out to be as anti social as possible. As for England choking? You don't choke when you get beaten by a far superior side.England didn't choke against India the other day.Some of that team simply aren't good enough at this level and got well beaten in the end.My problem's with the selector not the players.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Ian, I guess you must be pretty disgusted with those self-righteous barmy army blokes eh? Sitting there drinking beer, singing songs, having a lark while 11 of their beloved country men are choking …
Micko
Roar Rookie
Apparently he was a homophobe, so it's all ok! :silly: :silly: :silly:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Bloody hell Jeff, what happened? Injuries? One was that ban after the Bristol pub shenanigans from memory?
Micko
Roar Rookie
He left when he was 10. Same as Marnus.
Ian
Roar Rookie
I'd take anything Mr Pietersen says or has written for him with a massive pinch of salt.
Ian
Roar Rookie
This isn't even a story.Nothing with Ben's situation has changed.He's taken a break from cricket to spend time with his young family and hopefully get his mental health issues under control.There has been no setbacks.It's just a badly written,sensationalist report.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
About as often as his countryman (NZ) tour.
Ruairidh MacDonald
Roar Rookie
I think Broad and Anderson
john smythe
Guest
He will be missed from the ENG XI. He can turn a test match in a session. A true all rounder. This is shaping to be a solid as a rock series. Both sides are far from settled and quite even. Australias batting is a bit of a dogs breakfast : need openers and middle order other than Smith and Labs. Given the world cup is just before the ashes half the players will enter the ashes in T20 mode (warner). Poms on the other hand have a solid lineup but lack the execution most of the time. Aus need to look beyond Starc and make the other pace guys around Aus fight hard for that spot. Also an heir is Lyon is required ASAP. If he gets injured, Aus are in trouble. December cant arrive soon enough!
JGK
Roar Guru
Sorry, it was KP, not Trott. https://www.cricket.com.au/news/kevin-pietersen-autobiography-targets-former-teammates/2014-10-06
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Wow
Tony
Roar Guru
Based on what the English team is dishing up against India, they won't have much of a chance in the Ashes without Stokes
Clear as mud
Guest
i struggle with the fact he is 30. seems to have been part of cricket forever and the last decade for Australia has felt like a lifetime!
Clear as mud
Guest
Cricinfo has it that "Stokes set to be omitted" noting that this is the initial squad and they can change it in a month's time - that seems tp be the real story here (which would put the whole squad on tenterhooks if they and he decided he could go after all - presumably someone would have to drop out?!)
Micko
Roar Rookie
Any idea who they are?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
If Stokes doesn’t make the tour, then assuming he tours at 34yo, it’ll be 12 years between Tests in Australia.