Former England pacer Stuart Broad believes that the side need to take out the maximum positive out of their captain Ben Stokes missing out on their upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, and come forth with a strong performance. Stokes has been ruled out for the remainder of the summer season after tearing his hamstring while playing in The Hundred.
Stokes injured his hamstring on Sunday, 11 during the clash between his side, Norther Superchargers and the Manchester Originals in The Hundred. After the Superchargers were asked to chase down 153, Stokes came out to open the batting but had to retire hurt after facing issues with his hamstring. The England captain was carried off the pitch and has now subsequently been ruled out of the Three Lions’ summer season by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). However, Broad wants the England side, which will be led by Ollie Pope in Stokes’s absence, to find a silver-linning out of this mishap.
“It’s a real shame for the Test-match team because he looked so fit. He’s worked so hard on his fitness. But to use that old sporting saying of ‘take the positives’, it actually gives England the chance to play against Sri Lanka with a make-up of team without Ben Stokes, that they are going to have to trial at some stage,” Broad told PA News Agency.
“Stokesy hasn’t been able to bowl for a year-and-a-half but has been playing as a batter. What happens the night before Brisbane in 18 months’ time if Stokesy’s not very well? It’s important for (replacement captain) Ollie Pope to get some experience and see what a team looks like without Ben Stokes – not that any of us would want that particularly, but you’ve got to find the positives in that and Stokesy will still be around,” Broad added.
Stuart Broad also revealed a conversation with Ben Stokes, where the England skipper jokingly said that he would be supporting the team as a coach in the Sri Lanka series.
“He’s already texted me saying he’s going to be the coach so I don’t know what Baz (Brendon McCullum) is going to be doing,” Broad said.
England start off their first Test against Sri Lanka at the Old Trafford cricket ground on August 21.
