Ben Stokes smashes unbeaten 90 for Durham on injury return

Stokes hit eight fours and five sixes in his innings.

Ben Stokes. (Sky Sports)

Ben Stokes has proved that he has come out of his recent hamstring injury by smashing an unbeaten 90 for Durham in England's domestic T20 competition. Stokes missed the ODI series against Australia due to this injury, however, this knock very much proves the fact that he is fit again to resume his services for England. His knock, however, was not enough to take his team to a win against Yorkshire who won the game by 44 runs at Headingley. 

Stokes had also missed the second Test against Pakistan as well besides missing the ODI series against Australia. Playing as a batsman only, he hit eight fours and clearing the boundary five times. 

The 27-year-old was also named in a 14-man squad for the ensuing three-match ODI series beginning July 12, with Sam Curran and Sam Billings omitted from the squad to face India. His return will pose some selection questions for England, who claimed a 5-0 ODI series win over Australia last month. If Stokes does come back to the England playing XI for the ODI series against India, he will most likely replace Joe Root, the England Test captain. 

England interim coach Paul Farbrace has also spoken about a quick return for Stokes.  "Ben - the fact he is a three-in-one, he can bowl and he is the best fielder - you are going to bring him in as soon as he is available," he said. "You (also) need your best batsman. I can't believe anybody else in our set-up would argue against that. "(Root) is world-class in all forms of the game. You do need nous, and you do need people playing in different ways. "There will be times when he is the outstanding player in a T20 game and gets us over the line."

(Inputs from Cricket Australia) 

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 06 Jul, 2018

    Share Via