Ben Stokes withdraws from Pakistan Tests, sensibly prioritizes family over cricket

Ben Stokes, the England vice-captain, has withdrawn himself from the three-match Test series against Pakistan. He was a part of the opening Test at the Old Trafford in Manchester and will now head to New Zealand to spend quality time with his family in New Zealand. It goes without saying that the hosts will find it tough to fill in the all-rounder’s void with two matches remaining.

The 29-year-old played a critical role in England’s 2-1 victory over the West Indies after the home team went 0-1 down in the three-match series. In the first match, he stood in for Joe Root, who wasn’t a part of the game as he was away to attend the birth of his child. He was also criticised for not including the experienced Stuart Broad in the playing eleven for the opening Test.

Ben Stokes standing by his family like a rock

As per reports in Mirror, after the conclusion of the Manchester Test, which England won by three wickets, against Pakistan, Stokes informed his teammates that he would have to support them and would need to leave the bio-secure bubble, flying to Christchurch, his place of birth. Despite staying far away, Stokes’ family is a close-knit unit.

Back in December, Stokes’ father, Ged,  a former Rugby international, suffered serious illness. AT that time, the Three Lions’ cricketer was in South Africa for a Test series. Even as Stokes kept playing for his country, Ged had his wife Deborah by his side in a Johannesburg hospital. However, Stokes kept alternating his time between the hospital and the iconic Wanderers.

“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster with everything that’s gone on to be honest. I hope the old man’s in hospital watching this with a big smile on his face,” Stokes had said after the Brits won the four-match series 3-1 after going 0-1 down in the series.

After the conclusion of the series, Ged was deemed fit and was allowed to travel back to New Zealand where he underwent rehab for the last seven months. As far as the ongoing series is concerned, the second Test starts on August 13 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.