ODI World Cup 2023: Due to a hip injury, the England all-rounder has just warmed up on the bench thus far. His return could not come at a better moment, as England is now languishing in the points standings with just one victory.
Ben Stokes arrived at the training facility on Friday afternoon, and the cameras panned towards him. The all-rounder for England, who has been warming the bench thus far because of a hip ailment, chose not to even glance at the cameras pointed at him. Instead, he made the decision to bowl some off-spin in the netting!
Stokes bowled to Mark Wood and David Willey for almost thirty minutes, even managing to spin them out a few times. This suggests that Stokes will be back in the England team for their crucial World Cup match against South Africa at the Wankhede Stadium.
With just one victory in their previous three games, England is currently languishing in the points rankings, so his return couldn’t have come at a better moment. In the nets, Stokes’ teammates gathered around him and applauded each time he struck a boundary or made a catch because the reigning champion needed time to regroup.
Stokes adds a lot of enthusiasm and positive vibes to the table. Stokes walked the talk after head coach Matthew Mott called him a “spiritual leader” for motivating the team after their shocking loss to Afghanistan.
Stokes has made it a point to participate in every team practise since arriving in Mumbai. When he’s not hitting in the nets, he can be found having in-depth discussions with Sam Curran or Moeen Ali.
Before the big match, England captain Jos Buttler said of the player, “He adds a lot of value.” The administration of the squad is hoping that Stokes’ return would result in a turnaround because the team is in a difficult situation.
“Last night, Ben trained incredibly well. It’s wonderful to have him back. He is undoubtedly a valuable asset to the team, buttler added, adding to his presence, leadership abilities, and general reliability.
However, Buttler emphasised that, with the venue in mind, the team management has “many options.” “It’s always difficult to choose the squad since I have so many possibilities, but you’re doing a great job striking the appropriate balance. It’s always venue-dependent, so seeing the wicket here today and learning a little bit more has been beneficial, he added.
With Stokes back in action, England will be looking to take full advantage of the red-soil surface at the Wankhede Stadium, which is hosting its maiden World Cup event. The game is expected to be high-scoring.
