Ben Stokes RULED OUT of this Major tournament

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has withdrawn from this year’s edition of The Hundred to prioritize his fitness and focus on Test cricket. The England captain is managing his workload ahead of the much-awaited Ashes 2024-25 series in Australia, which is expected to be a crucial moment in his leadership.

Ben Stokes has bad memories with The Hundred. The left-handed batter has scored only 14 runs in five matches at a dismal average of 3.50. While playing for Northern Superchargers last August, he suffered a serious hamstring injury that sidelined him from competitive cricket for two months.

Ben Stokes to Skip The Hundred 2025 to Prioritize Test Career

According to a report by ESPN Cricinfo, Ben Stokes has decided not to play for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred after consulting with head coach Andrew Flintoff. The 33-year-old is currently recovering from a hamstring injury that worsened during England’s tour of New Zealand.

"ESPNcricinfo has learned that Stokes made the decision based on his upcoming schedule after consultation with Andrew Flintoff, who took over as Northern Superchargers' men's coach last year. He is currently recovering from surgery to his left hamstring," the report stated.

Stokes had surgery to fix a torn left hamstring, which will need a three-month recovery. Ben was not included in the squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. He also did not register for the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. This break gives him ample time to recover before the home Test series against India in June.

The Hundred 2025 to Begin on August 5, Following the England-India Test Series

The Hundred is set to begin on August 5, just a day after England concludes their five-match Test series against India. With the Ashes starting in Perth on November 21, Ben Stokes has opted to focus on being fit for the series against arch-rivals.

England have not won the Ashes in nearly a decade and face a tough task when they travel to Australia for the five-match series. Brendon McCullum’s side will heavily rely on Stokes’ all-round abilities, but his recent fitness struggles have made that difficult.

Ben Stokes Set to Return in County Championship Ahead of England's International Summer

Ben Stokes is expected to make his comeback in County Championship matches for Durham before England's international summer kicks off. The England national cricket team will begin their home season by hosting Zimbabwe for a Test match in May.

Following that, they will take on India in a five-match Test series. England, led by Stokes, suffered a 1-4 series defeat in India last year, and the skipper will be eager to turn the tables this time.

This series also marks the beginning of the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both teams. After failing to qualify for the 2025 WTC Final, England and India will be determined to secure crucial points early in the new cycle.