Ben Stokes Injured, Ruled Out of The Hundred Before ENG vs SL
Ben Stokes Ruled Out of The Hundred Before ENG vs SL Due to Injury
The news of Ben Stokes’s injury has practically been thrown as a bombshell at the English cricketing summer. English Test skipper and the strong pillar of the ‘Bazball’ approach, Ben Stokes, has been ruled out for the remainder of the summer because of a hamstring injury. This development has impacted not just his participation in the ongoing season of The Hundred, which was set to start yesterday, but has also raised monumental concerns for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), gearing up for the all-important Test series against Sri Lanka, a part of the current World Test Championship cycle.
Stokes’ Injury and the ECB
Ben Stokes can perhaps be called the most valued player in the English cricket team just for the way he turns around the course of the game with the bat or the ball at will. Particularly in Test cricket, he has led from the front, and he was instrumental in England’s most recent victories. He is presently out due to a hamstring injury, and it appears that the ECB is suffering as a result.
The injury comes at the worst possible time, as Stokes is out when England builds up preparations for a three-match Test series against Sri Lanka. His absence leaves England not only without its captain but, more importantly, without one of its most impactful all-rounders. His headstrong batting style, together with the ability to deliver key spells with the ball, had made him much to England’s cause. With Stokes out of the equation, England faces a tough task of continuing their advantage against the reinvigorated team from Sri Lanka.
ECB’s Proactive Call: Gus Atkinson Pulled Out
Reacting to Stokes’ injury, the ECB has had to take some drastic steps. Anticipating the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, it pulled fast bowler Gus Atkinson out of The Hundred. Atkinson was part of the Oval Invincibles and had featured in just one game of the tournament, prior to him being recalled. All this follows the earlier move of pulling out Chris Woakes from The Hundred and underlines the commitment of the ECB to have their national team best prepared for this series against Sri Lanka.
It will mean, though, that the outstanding Oval Invincibles will be without their outstanding player for the remainder of the competition. The Invincibles had topped the league stage and were going to take part in the finals. But now, their chances have been dealt a major blow with the withdrawal of two of their important players, Atkinson and Spencer Johnson, who have torn into their squad due to an injury. Now, the Invincibles will be banking on Tom Curran to return to the squad, who was rested during their last group game, ahead of the finals.
The Leadership Gap: Ollie Pope to Captain England
With Ben Stokes ruled out, that responsibility has fallen to Ollie Pope. The young batsman has shown outstanding promise in the past and runs out with the captain’s armband against the island nation. This will be an acid test for Pope, who comes in to fill the shoes of a captain not only did Morgan lead with great distinction but he set the benchmark for the way England had to play aggressive and fearless cricket.
Yet, Sri Lanka will be high on confidence. They had just routed India 2-0 in a three-match ODI contest. This triumph will boost the morale of the Sri Lankan side, and so, they would want to make hay of England’s weaknesses, sans one of their regular leaders and influential players.
England’s Squad for the Sri Lanka Series
ECB announced a good blend of youth and some experience in a squad for the Sri Lanka series. He is going to make Ollie Pope the captain and include promising Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, and Jamie Smith to complement seasoned campaigners like Joe Root, Chris Woakes, and Mark Wood. The batting will be further strengthened with the inclusion of Harry Brook and Dan Lawrence, while the bowling will have more penetration with Matthew Potts and Olly Stone being added to it.
Here is England’s squad for the series:
- Ollie Pope (c)
- Gus Atkinson
- Shoaib Bashir
- Harry Brook
- Jordan Cox
- Ben Duckett
- Dan Lawrence
- Matthew Potts
- Joe Root
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Olly Stone
- Chris Woakes
It paints a picture of the ECB very seriously following what their intentions are: to have in place a team ready to truly challenge at the highest level, leastways without having a player such as Stokes around. This series against Sri Lanka, therefore, will be an acid test for this dressing room, and a lot will depend upon how well Pope copes with the added pressure of captaincy in such an important series.
Challenges Ahead for England
The upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka is a must-win for England in the context of its standing in the World Test Championship. As the WTC cycle is in full flow, any game turns out to be very important, and England can’t afford to drop one, that too at home. With their recent form and the absence of Ben Stokes, this is a tough series for the hosts.
Whilst others speak of the Daikyo Destiny, a source of inspiration for Australian cricket, there is the question of how far Ollie Pope can take his leadership in this regard and whether players like Joe Root, Mark Wood, and Chris Woakes can influence England going further in the competition. The ECB has set the precedence that the withdrawal of key players from The Hundred is for the sole purpose of making sure that the national side is in the best possible march during the series.
Watch live cricket for free on Winexch will appease such fans, offering them the chance to stream all that they might have missed. The platform will provide detailed coverage of the games to ensure that no moment slips out of the audience’s eyes.
FAQ
- Why was Ben Stokes pulled out of The Hundred?
Ben Stokes was withdrawn from the tournament with a hamstring injury, which resulted in him being unavailable for the entire English summer, especially the Test series against Sri Lanka.
- Who will lead the English team in the Test series against Sri Lanka?
The English England Test team captain himself has been announced: Ollie Pope, since Ben Stokes was withdrawn from the tournament.
- Who are the players who have been withdrawn by the ECB for The Hundred?
It resulted in the ECB withdrawing Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson from The Hundred to be part of the revised squad that is meant to prepare for the Test series against hosts Sri Lanka.
- Now, with this upshot from Stokes’s injury, what are the aftermaths for England’s prospects against Sri Lanka?
As a side effect of the loss of the T20 World Cup, this will impact the rise of the crucial state right now, as a leading all-rounder and test team skipper. His absence will be an acid test of the depth and leadership of England.
- Where can I watch the England vs. Sri Lanka Test series live?
You will be able to watch live cricket for free at Winexch for full and all-encompassing coverage of the series.
