England all-rounder Ben Stokes is likely to miss team’s South Africa tour opening warm-up game next month to attend the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards to be held in Aberdeen on December 15.
The Three Lions are scheduled to play a 2-day Practice Match against South African Invitation XI on December 17-18 and a 3-day Practice Match against South Africa A on December 20-22 before the four-match Test series starting at Centurion from December 26.
The World Cup champions will also play three One Day Internationals and as many as T20Is during their two month long South Africa tour along with two more practice matches here.
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It is being reported that Stokes, who is currently in New Zealand for the Test series, will fly out late and will not be available for the opening match against a South African Invitational XI in Benoni.
The star all-rounder Stokes is one of six nominees for the BBC’s main award as well as named on the six-person shortlist by bookmakers' favourite to lift the trophy following his titanic performances in the World Cup final and Ashes 2019.
He has enjoyed a remarkable year – first hitting 84* and then winning super over for England to win the World Cup title for the first time over New Zealand, also played a key role in levelling the Ashes.
Stokes played one of the greatest Test innings of all time against Australia at Headingley scoring 135 not out to secure a thrilling one-wicket win for the hosts that helped the hosts to draw the series.
Meanwhile, the popular musician Ed Sheeran revealed the nomination on Twitter, “Hey Ben Stokes, you are a Sports Personality of the Year nominee, congratulations.”
Sheeran, who watched several England matches in the summer, further added, “I think you should win because you are a World Cup winner and you had one of the most amazing performances in the World Cup final, and just one month later you scored 135 not out to level England in the Ashes, and you were also England's top scorer with 441.”
While Stokes said on Twitter: “Overwhelmed by this and buzzing to be nominated. 2019 has been so good. There are so many people to thank for helping me receive this nomination. Congrats to all the other nominees. Looking forward to being in Aberdeen on the 15th.”
Noteworthy, the prestigious award has been won on five previous occasions by a cricketer – most recently by Andrew Flintoff for his Ashes-winning heroics in 2005 while Jim Laker (1956), David Steele (1975) and Ian Botham (1981) are the other cricketers who have won the public vote to honour with the outstanding British sportsman of the year.
(With ESPN Cricinfo Inputs)
