Ben Stokes hails County Championship as ‘great opportunity’ for Eng Test hopefuls

London, April 5: Ben Stokes, captain of England’s men’s Test team, has identified the country’s ongoing domestic red-ball season as the key route for players aiming to earn a national call-up, especially in Test, as England gear up for a highly anticipated home summer. Stokes said that the ongoing County Championship season is “a great opportunity” for cricketers around the country, according to the ICC website.
England will host New Zealand for three Tests in June and will then also have Pakistan touring the country in August, for three Tests. Apart from the Tests, England will also host India for five T20Is and three ODIs in July. They will also host Sri Lanka for three T20Is and three ODIs in September.
Stokes said the domestic season offers a valuable chance for players across England to showcase their talent, adding that the current pool of cricketers is exceptionally strong and among the best the country has had in a long time.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for a lot of people around the country. Obviously, we had the Lions in Australia at the same time as we were, so you look at some of the players that are coming through that system at the moment. The talent that we have in England is just unquestionable. The pool of players, the talent that we have, it’s probably as good as it’s been in a very long time,” Stokes said as quoted by the ICC website.
Stokes was set to play for Durham in the County Championship but is currently recovering from a broken cheekbone sustained while helping out in the nets in February. The England all-rounder is expected to return to action by May. (ANI)