England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been added to the England squad for the upcoming Ashes series.
The 30-year-old took a break from cricket in order to prioritize his mental well-being.
The all-rounder picked up an injury during the first leg of Indian Premier League. He then went on to play a few domestic games before being called to captain England.
He had to take up the responsibility due to the COVID19 scare in the England squad during their series against Pakistan. The series witnessed as many as eight debutants.
After that series, the 30-year-old revealed that he played with pain in his fingers and was yet to recover fully.
Later, he took a break from the game to prioritize his mental well-being.
He missed the series against India and wasn’t initially a part of Ashes squad.
On Monday, England Cricket Board had announced that he is back to cricket.
“I am looking forward to seeing my mates and being on the field with them. I’m ready for Australia,” Ben Stokes said according to the official release.
Ashley Giles, the managing Director of ECB, added:
“Time and time again, Ben has demonstrated how important he is to the England team and having him available for the Ashes series is excellent news for all of us and, in particular, Chris (Silverwood), Joe (Root) and the rest of the players”.
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