I'm Seriously Not Going To Put Any Pressure On Ben Stokes Whatsoever, States Chris Silverwood

Ben Stokes absence from England’s squad for the Ashes tour in Australia is not a big shock for the cricket world as the Durham-born player continues to take an indefinite break from the game.

On July 30, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that Stokes will take an indefinite break from the game with immediate effect to prioritise his mental health concerns and spend time with his family.

Ben Stokes continues his indefinite break from cricket

Stokes was subsequently ruled out of the Test series against India. His last international appearance was made against Pakistan in a three-match ODI series. He captained the team after the core players were isolated amid COVID-19 tensions in the England camp.

Stokes suffered a finger injury during IPL 2021, which ruled him out of the T20 tournament for the Rajasthan Royals. Stokes recently went for an operation for the same finger, which keeps him out of the play for more time than usually required.

According to a report in the Daily Mirror, Doug Campbell, a Leeds-based consultant who had operated on Ben Stokes’ finger initially, reassessed the cricketer’s finger on Monday, removing the metal screws from the now-healed digit, but also addressing the scar tissue that had been causing “searing” pain around Stokes’ tendons and ligaments.

Ben Stokes will come back when he is ready: Chris Silverwood

England head coach Chris Silverwood once again reiterated the same concept of not rushing for the star England all-rounder and said that he will decide on it once the player himself feels like playing.

“I’m gonna go back to my old answer. I’m seriously not going to put any pressure on Ben whatsoever. Ben will come back when he is ready. He’ll give me a call. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to make plans when necessary. But first and foremost, my first intent is to make sure he’s okay from a well-being point of view when he is back to perform,” Silverwood said in a virtual press conference. 

This will be the second time in a row that Stokes will be missing the Ashes in Down Under as he couldn’t make it during the 2017/18 Ashes tour following a drunken brawl outside a Bristol nightclub in September 2017.

Stokes played a breathtaking knock against Australia in the Headingley Test of the 2019 Ashes Test at home as he remained unbeaten on 135 to pull the game for England in a thrilling manner and script one of the best-run chase in the fourth innings of any Test match.

Also Read: Just IN: No Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer As England Announce 17-Men Squad For Ashes 2021/22