Major setback for England! Ben Stokes rules himself out of England's T20 World Cup title defence

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• Apr 2, 2024 | Guriya Khatun

Stokes had undergone a knee surgery last year in hopes of addressing a longstanding fitness concern.

Digital Desk: Ben Stokes will not participate in the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which the USA and the West Indies will co-host. The all-rounder decided not to be selected for the World Cup to concentrate on recovering completely so he can resume bowling at his best. 

Stokes' choice was confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in a statement. 

“The England Test captain’s primary focus is to get fully fit to bowl not only for the summer of Test cricket, which includes two three-match Test series’ against West Indies and Sri Lanka respectively but for all cricket in the future,” the statement read.

Stokes had undergone a knee surgery last year in hopes of addressing a longstanding fitness concern. Following around two months of rehabilitation efforts, the England Test captain resumed matches on the India tour. 

Stokes did not bowl in the first four Tests despite playing in all five of the India tour's games, but he did dismiss five overs in the match that was played in Dharamsala. 

Stokes also chose to control his workload and fitness by declining to participate in the December IPL players' auction. 

“I’m working hard and focusing on building my bowling fitness back up to fulfil a full role as an all-rounder in all formats of cricket. Opting out of the IPL and the World Cup will hopefully be a sacrifice that allows me to be the all-rounder I want to be for the foreseeable future,” Stokes said in a statement.

“The recent Test tour of India highlighted how far behind I was from a bowling point of view after my knee surgery and nine months without bowling. I’m looking forward to playing for Durham in the County Championship before the start of our Test summer,” he added.

The defending champions, England, defeated Pakistan in the championship match in November 2021 to win the trophy for the second time in their history. 

“I wish Jos (Buttler), Motty (Matthew Mott) and all the team the best of luck in defending our title,” Stokes said.

England's 2024 T20 World Cup campaign kicks off on June 4th at the Kensington Oval in Barbados against Scotland. Before qualifying for the Super 8s and knockout stages, they will next play group matches in Barbados and Antigua against Australia, Oman, and Namibia.