England star Ben Stokes to miss India Test series to prioritise ‘his mental wellbeing’

English cricket was in shock on Friday night when Ben Stokes pulled out of the marquee Test series against India and took an ‘indefinite break’ from the game.

Stokes, 30, will miss at least the first two Tests at Trent Bridge and Lord’s to ‘prioritise his mental wellbeing’ and rest the left index finger that was badly broken in his first game for Rajasthan Royals in this year’s Indian Premier League.

England admitted in a statement that the finger, injured in April when he dropped a catch offered by Chris Gayle, has not fully healed since Stokes was rushed back ahead of schedule earlier this month to captain an emergency one-day side to a 3-0 victory against Pakistan.

Ben Stokes will take an indefinite break from England duty to prioritise his mental wellbeing

ECB managing director Ashley Giles (R) praised Stokes for showing courage to open up

Stokes’ break will also help the left index finger injury that he suffered earlier this year heal

And, as Stokes was replaced in England’s 17-man squad by Craig Overton for a first Test that begins on Wednesday, team director Ashley Giles offered his full support to a talismanic figure who has suffered extreme highs and lows throughout his career.

‘Ben has shown tremendous courage to open up about his feelings and wellbeing,’ said Giles. ‘Our primary focus has always been and will continue to be the mental health and welfare of all of our people.

‘The demands on our athletes to prepare and play elite sport are relentless in a typical environment but the ongoing pandemic has greatly compounded this.

‘Spending significant times away from family, with minimal freedoms, is extremely challenging. The cumulative effect of operating almost continuously in these environments over the last 16 months has had a major impact on everyone’s wellbeing.’

The all-rounder could now miss the entirety of the Test series against Virat Kohli’s India

Stokes has been replaced in England’s Test squad by Somerset all-rounder Craig Overton (R)

There were perhaps signs that all was not well with Stokes in his two appearances for his Hundred side Northern Superchargers before he withdrew from the new competition seemingly to meet up with England on Saturday in Nottingham.

He was twice out cheaply, appeared to be having trouble gripping his bat and dropped what by his standards was a regulation catch to reprieve Alex Hales in the outfield. His bowling, however, seemed to have been unaffected by the injury.

Stokes had no hesitation in rushing to England’s rescue when the whole of the original 50-over squad to face Pakistan was ruled out by a Covid outbreak in the camp but clearly he was not ready to return.

This is the latest stunning development in a career full of emotional ups and downs, from the depths of being arrested for his part in a brawl in Bristol four years ago to the extraordinary highs of playing a defining role in winning the 2019 World Cup and that year’s Ashes Test at Headingley.

Stokes missed the Test series defeat for Joe Root’s men by New Zealand earlier this summer

He was also set to miss the Pakistan ODI series but returned to captain a makeshift squad

Then Stokes produced another match-winning performance early in 2020 in Cape Town but that tour was played out against the backdrop of his father Ged falling seriously ill after travelling to South Africa to support his son.

Stokes was given compassionate leave by England that year to travel to his family home in New Zealand to be with his father while he battled brain cancer before he passed away in December.

Stokes also missed the tour of Sri Lanka before Christmas as England battled to protect their players from the mental demands of bio-secure bubbles.

‘He is a fabulous cricketer, one of the best in the world,’ said Kevin Pietersen during Sky’s coverage of the Hundred on Friday night. ‘There are a lot of things that have happened to Ben Stokes in the last couple of years, he lost his dad, and I just want him to be okay.’

Stokes has also been competing for Northern Superchargers in the Hundred this month

Now clearly Stokes, who spent several months recovering from a similarly bad break to his right index finger earlier in his career, feels the need to take further time out and could miss the whole of a five-Test series that concludes in Manchester next month.

But Stokes has told those close to him that he hopes to return in time for October’s Twenty20 World Cup and the Ashes that are due to follow in November.

Clearly, at a time when there is more emphasis and understanding of mental health issues in sport than ever before, he will not be rushed by England.

‘Ben will be given as long as he needs,’ added Giles. ‘And we look forward to seeing him play for England again in the future.’

It is a hope shared by every cricket fan as England now prepare to take on India without their vice-captain and a man who remains the heartbeat of their side.