Highlight
England coach Chris Silverwood refused to request the return of Ben Stokes.
Stokes took an endless sabbatical from cricket to give mental health priority
Silverwood remarked “Ben is all right” was the most crucial thing for him.
England versus India: Ben Stokes won’t be pushed back from his pause to help his side even their five-game series against India, said England’s Chief Trainer Chris Silverwood.
England will not urge talismanic all-round Ben Stokes to reduce his mental-health leave, and will assist them to try to reach a level playing field with India in their present trial series, CEO Chris Silverwood said on Tuesday. Silverwood said on the day when India won a stunning win in Lord’s second test to go up 1-0 in the five-match series. At the end of July Stokes announced “An indefinite breach with immediate effect from all crickets” due to the stress of his status as one of England’s leading stars.
Silverwood said it was a case of waiting for Stokes to approach him as to when he feels ready to return to the fray.
In addition to the Indian series, England is facing a busy winter program.
They play two T20 matches in Pakistan in October, the World Cup T20 – staged in the UAE and Oman – the five-Test Ashes series in Australia and a three-Test series in the West Indies.
“No, I don’t push from my standpoint,” Silverwood replied.
“I don’t think you can push with these issues.
“I will wait and there will be an element of waiting for him to come to me to let me know he is ready.”
In June, Stokes missed England’s Test Series loss to New Zealand because of damage but returned the one-day squad captain to a 3-0 success over Pakistan last month.
Silverwood said Stokes and his family had to decide when he felt he was good to depart.
“It’s no time restriction,” Silverwood remarked.
“I would stress again the important thing is Ben is okay, his family is okay and that he comes back strong, and when he re-enters the frame, he is ready in his mind to come back and perform for England like we know he can.
“I am certainly not pushing him for an answer and I don’t think that would be the right thing to do.
“There are people around him who support him, who will welcome him when he is ready to return, with open arms, but who will get all the help he needs till then.”
England will pick their team for the third Headingley Test on Wednesday next week, with fast bowler Mark Wood checked by medical personnel on the ground of shoulder injury.
