England Test captain and our favorite, Ben Stokes, will make his first Durham appearance in two years. He’s going to face Ashes rival Nathan Lyon, later this week.
Ben has withdrawn from next month’s T20 World Cup. And he is focused on his red ball game—a return to all-rounder responsibilities after spending most of the previous year as a specialist hitter.
Just after the completion of England’s Test tour of India, the 32-year-old all-rounder took a one-year vacation. He misses the first five games of his country’s return to the top division. But he is now ready for his comeback.
Ben Stokes’ Great Return to Cricket
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The England Test captain’s last competitive match was the final match of the tour of India in early March. After withdrawing from the IPL, Ben Stokes declared himself unavailable for next month’s T20 World Cup. It was a guarantee he could play a full role in the Test summer. Both with bat and ball.
After his surgery in November to remove a problematic left knee that had stopped him from performing the latter. With over two months before the first Test against the West Indies, which begins on July 10 at Lord’s, Stokes will start his preparation on Friday in Blackpool.
With Durham lying fifth in Division One with one victory and three draws. Now head coach Ryan Campbell was naturally optimistic about Ben Stokes’ impact on his club and the tournament as a whole.
Preparations of Durham For Upcoming Series
At BBC Radio Newcastle, Campbell stated that they’re very very excited to have Ben Stokes in their team. He also mentioned that it’s not less than an honor for them that Besn is playing for the first time for their team. “it will be fantastic”, he said.
“We, all Durham players are always excited to take on the best players in the league. Having one of those guys on our team to set an example and share his experiences is excellent.
Ben Stokes, 32, played all five matches in England’s 4-1 defeat against India but only bowled in the last Test. He dismissed Rohit Sharma with his first ball and ended up delivering only five overs.
Despite originally ruling himself out of bowling on the tour, his rehabilitation behind the scenes was so quick that he chose to flip his arm over in Dharamsala.
He therefore departed the trip determined to rebuild his bowling career, not least because England struggled to balance their squad without a seam-bowling allrounder.
Bowling Progress Can Be Seen By Ben
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Despite his time off, Stokes has continued to improve his bowling, gradually increasing the intensity of workouts ahead of six Tests this summer – three against Sri Lanka after the West Indies series. On Monday, men’s managing director Rob Key told the BBC’s Test Match Special podcast that Stokes’ development had encouraged him.
Key said, ”He’s not always up against painful difficulties to get what he wants. Since the knee surgery went well, I think he feels liberated and can now look forward to this phase of his career with the knowledge that he can do both, which is always advantageous for an all-around player. Taking away one of those makes the game harder for all-around players.”
Ben may play four red-ball matches for Durham before the first West Indies Test. It remains to be seen if he will be available for Durham’s Vitality Blast campaign, which begins on May 30. Whether with the red or white ball, Stokes and England’s management will want to make sure he has the requisite overs under his belt before the Test season begins.
Ben Plans For Full Fitness
Regarding Ben Stokes, Key stated that though Ben is strong enough we think now, he’s mainly focused on his full fitness.
“Because it’s not only about your back, your knee, and the knee you had surgery on; you just lose that toughness and sturdiness that bowling demands. I don’t believe there is any other force you can put your body through like bowling, so he needs to work up to it again.”
It is expected he will return to the side on Thursday or Friday to bowl a period as he continues his extended recuperation ahead of next month’s T20 World Cup.
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About the Author
Zartash Zulfiqar is a passionate cricket writer whose love for cricket shines through in every word. From match analyses to player profiles, she delivers insightful commentary that resonates with fans worldwide. Stay tuned for the latest from the world of cricket, brought to you by Zartash.
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