Ben Stokes, the captain of the England cricket team, has decided to withdraw from The Hundred tournament, choosing to prioritise preparations for the upcoming Ashes series later this year. The decision came after discussions with Northern Superchargers’ head coach Andrew Flintoff. At 33, Stokes is currently recovering from a hamstring injury, initially sustained during the domestic season and exacerbated in a Test series against New Zealand.
Stokes has had a history of injuries throughout his career and now aims to conserve his energy for what is anticipated to be a significant challenge against Australia. England has not claimed the Ashes for nearly a decade, and the five-match series is set to kick off in November. Before the Ashes, England will also face India in a five-Test series in the middle of the year, a campaign in which Stokes hopes to participate.
The success of Brendon McCullum’s squad in upcoming matches heavily relies on Stokes’s ability to perform well as both a batsman and a bowler, a role that’s been complicated by his recent fitness issues. In Stokes’s absence from the Hundred, the Northern Superchargers will turn to Harry Brook as their centrally-contracted player, who is valued at approximately $400,000 AUD. The team is also bolstered by players such as Colin Ingram, Adil Rashid, and Australian star Matt Short, with the tournament scheduled to commence in August.