Ben Stokes Likely to Sit Out England's Second World Cup Match Due to Hip Injury
Reece Topley Considered as Possible Replacement Against Bangladesh
Dharamsala, October 10, 2023 - England's star allrounder, Ben Stokes, is unlikely to feature in the team's second World Cup match against Bangladesh in Dharamsala on Tuesday due to a persistent hip injury.
Despite his ongoing knee issues, Stokes made a comeback to One-Day International (ODI) cricket specifi
cally as a specialist batsman for the World Cup. Unfortunately, he missed England's recent heavy defeat to New Zealand in Ahmedabad and has not played a competitive match since his spectacular innings of 182 - England's highest ODI score - against New Zealand nearly a month ago.
During England's stay in Dharamsala, Stokes has had two batting sessions in the nets. On Monday, he appeared more comfortable while facing spinners compared to his performance against sidearm deliveries on Sunday. However, his participation in Tuesday's game remains in doubt, with England's next fixture against Afghanistan in Delhi serving as a potential comeback opportunity.
Jos Buttler, England's captain, expressed optimism about Stokes' recovery, stating that he was "progressing well" and "doing more each day." Nevertheless, Buttler clarified during a pre-match press conference that Stokes is "probably unlikely for tomorrow."
Originally, Stokes had planned to use these two months to rest his knee. However, he changed his decision in August, driven by the allure of the World Cup. "The words 'World Cup' are pretty inspiring," he noted. "The idea of going in and potentially being able to win back-to-back World Cups was one of the big things."
In Stokes' absence, Harry Brook took on the No. 4 position in the previous match against New Zealand, contributing 25 runs from 15 balls. He is expected to retain the same role against Bangladesh, where he will face a challenge from Bangladesh's spinners.
The upcoming match will be played on a fresh pitch, distinct from the slow surface where Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan last Saturday. England may contemplate including an additional seamer in their lineup, with Reece Topley being the favored candidate, possibly at the expense of Moeen Ali.
Buttler acknowledged the possibility of selecting an extra seamer, stating, "It's definitely an option. I played here in the IPL just gone, and there can be some good pace and bounce in the wicket. So certainly, we'll have those discussions, and we've got fantastic options within the squad to pick different line-ups with a different balance. It's something we'll consider."
0 Comments
If you have any questions, please let me know.