Highlight
Stokes has left the cricket team without telling anyone for the time being.
He has made a promise to himself to focus on his mental health and take care of his wounded finger.
In Craig Overton’s place, Stokes has been withdrawn from the Test squad to face India.
In an effort to boost his batting and be a more useful player for his country, England all-rounder Ben Stokes has retired from cricket and intends to take an indefinite vacation from the sport.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) made the announcement on Friday that Ben Stokes will take an extended vacation from all forms of cricket to “prioritize his mental well-being,” becoming the latest high-profile sports star to seek an escape from the constraints of competition. Stokes has pulled out of the Test squad for the upcoming five-match series against India, in which Craig Overton will instead be representing England. According to the governing body of England and Wales Cricket, Ben Stokes will be taking an indefinite break from all cricket with immediate effect.
England cricket team left-handed batsman Ben Stokes has withdrawn from the Test squad ahead of the Test series against India commencing next week so he can focus on his mental health and recovery from playing competitive cricket again earlier this month.
All of the originally picked players had to drop out because of an outbreak of the coronavirus within the camp, but 30-year-old Stokes returned as England’s one-day international lead-off man against Pakistan.
The ECB’s Giles says, “Ben has demonstrated remarkable courage in opening up about his sentiments and well-being, and the ECB completely supports his decision.”
“We have always focused on and will continue to put our people’s mental health and well-being above all else. The intensity of the athlete’s training and competition is always stressful, but the prolonged pandemic has exacerbated this stress.”
Stokes’ decision comes just days after American gymnast Simone Biles, who is one of the world’s best, decided to not participate in two events at the 2020 Summer Olympics in order to safeguard her mental health.
Both Naomi Osaka, a face of the Olympics who returned from a mental health sabbatical, and the 24-year-old also struggled.
They cited refusing to participate in press conferences as comparable to “kicking people when they are down,” therefore Osaka decided to forfeit their trip to the French Open.
She had previously skipped Wimbledon and was back in Tokyo for the opening ceremony, where she lighted the Olympic cauldron.
