Ben Stokes takes legal action against English daily that revealed his sensitive past

Around a month ago, an English news daily The Sun leaked sensitive information about Ben Stokes, the national cricket team’s all-rounder. It had published a front-page story, headlined Stokes’ Secret Tragedy. Inside, it was mentioned that Stokes’ half-brother and sister were shot dead by his mother’s ex-partner in New Zealand. The incident took place three years before Stokes’ birth.

The agency’s action didn’t go down well with Stokes by any stretch of the imagination and he lashed out at the news daily, releasing a statement on Twitter. Now it has been learned that Stokes and his mother have reportedly taken legal action against the publisher for releasing the sensitive information.

“It is hard to find words that adequately describe such low and despicable behaviour, disguised as journalism. I cannot conceive of anything more immoral, heartless or contemptuous to the feelings and circumstances of my family,” Stokes wrote in the Twitter post.

Ben Stokes takes a stern step

As per reports in The Guardian, after a month following the article, Stokes and his mother, Deborah, have filed proceedings against The Sun for invasion of privacy. But it has also been known that it’s unclear whether papers have been formally served on the Sun’s publisher, News Group Newspapers, which is part of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire.

According to the 28-year-old Stokes’ post, the news agency ‘sent a reporter to his parents’ house in New Zealand. There the journo asked them on the upsetting topic, which had long been forgotten, out of the blue. For the time being, further developments on the matter remain to be seen.

As far his assignments on the field is concerned, Stokes last played in the 2019 Ashes versus Australia where he notched centuries at the Lord’s and Headingley respectively to go with a couple of fifties. In fact, his knock at Leeds pulled the Three Lions out of the pits and carved a one-wicket win.

Prior to that, he had an excellent campaign in the World Cup where he racked up quite a few fifties, including an unbeaten 84 in the final versus the Black Caps. Stokes will next be seen in the two-match away Test series against the Kiwis, scheduled to get underway on November 21.

Watch: 10 Expensive cars owned by Indian cricketers