'He didn't quit in the middle of a Test match' - Piers Morgan refuses to criticize Ben Stokes for taking mental health break

The cricketing fraternity was in for a shock on Friday evening as England all-rounder Ben Stokes decided to take a break from cricket to focus on his mental health. Subsequently, he has been ruled out of the upcoming five-match Test series against India starting from August 4. During the break, Stokes will also recover from his long-standing finger injury which he sustained during the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Meanwhile, there have been a lot of instances of not only cricketers but also the athletes taking a break from their respective sports due to mental health issues. Recently, the United States gymnast Simon Biles pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics midway due to mental health issues. While many came out to support her, English journalist Piers Morgan had criticized Biles for leaving her teammates in trouble in the middle of Olympics.

However, Morgan doesn’t feel Ben Stokes deserves criticism for pulling out of the much-awaited Test series against India. One of the Twitter users was quick to ask him if he will now have some harsh words for the all-rounder as he pulled out of the series with less than a week to go.

Piers Morgan backs Stokes

Responding to the query, Piers Morgan pointed out that Ben Stokes didn’t quit in the middle of the game like Simon Biles. “If he (Stokes) quit in the middle of a Test match with no physical injury, leaving his teammates in the lurch like Simon Biles did, & complained he wasn’t having enough ‘fun’, then I would have said that. Especially if he had GOAT (greatest of all time) embroidered on his shirt. But he didn’t. So I didn’t,” he said.

Moreover, Morgan also stated Stokes is recovering from his finger injury. He had to rush back to play to lead England after the main squad was isolated just before the Pakistan series due to COVID cases in the camp. “And due to a busted finger. I’m sure Ben Stokes wouldn’t call his decision to pull out of the massive India Test series ‘tremendously courageous’, ‘inspiring’ or ‘heroic’, as some are saying. Nor would I. England will be weaker without him & I hope he’s back for the Ashes,” Morgan further added.