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Steve Harmison, the former England cricketer, has suggested that the English team management should encourage Ben Stokes to leave the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 in India. The 45-year-old’s thoughts have come after England are out of the reckoning for the semi-final spot in the CWC 2023, which prompted him to state that the Test captain should get himself ready for the long format series in India next January.
For the unversed, Ben Stokes, who took a U-turn on retirement in the ODIs to play the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, didn’t participate in the first three matches of the flagship tournament due to a hip injury. The 32-year-old returned to England’s playing XI against South Africa, but since then, he struggled to score runs versus Sri Lanka, and India, until a slow fifty against Australia in the losing cause.
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In his chat to the PA, Steve Harmison was quoted as saying, “I am amazed Ben is still in the country, I don’t see any point in him being there. I’m sure that conversation has been had but it needs strong leadership. It needs someone to say, ‘Ben, you’re going home. Here’s a ticket, there’s the plane, get on it’. I think Rob Key, as director of cricket, should probably take that decision and if I was Brendon McCullum (The coach of England’s Test team) I’d be doing everything I could to encourage him.”
“You never know what they are going to find with a big op, or what the rehab looks like. So give yourself the extra time because it could be the difference between being fully fit for the first Test or the third. The single most important person in that Test set-up is Ben Stokes. They need their leader and that’s why he has to go home,” remarked the former fast bowler from England.
Notably, the talisman of the English cricket team is set to have knee surgery after the ODI World Cup 2023, which will reportedly keep him out of action for a few months. Ben Stokes could return for the five-match Test series against India in away conditions, starting next January, if his recovery goes well.
“This (India) tour is going to be twice as hard as the Ashes given the conditions, so he’s going to be more important than ever,” stated Steve Harmison.
