Published: Mar 15, 2014, 12:29 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 15, 2014, 12:29 AM (IST)
London: Mar 14, 2014
England all-rounder Ben Stokes will miss the forthcoming ICC World T20 2014 after breaking his hand while punching a locker during England’s five-run win over West Indies.
Stokes suffered the embarrassing injury immediately after he was dismissed during the third Twenty20 international (T20I) and his setback adds to England’s injury woes ahead of the T20 event.
Stokes, 22, admitted the injury was a major disappointment on the eve of his country’s departure from Barbados to Bangladesh.
“I am really disappointed to be missing out on going to a World T20 with England — it was a huge error in judgement following a frustrating tour for me and I deeply regret my behaviour,” he said in an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement on Friday.
“I would like to wish the team all the very best in Bangladesh.”
Stokes’ misdemeanour is not the first of his otherwise highly-promising career.
It is just 13 months since he was sent home, along with fellow all-rounder Matt Coles, from an England Lions tour of Australia after England and Wales Cricket Board management staff lost patience with the pair’s persistent late-night drinking.
Shortly before his Test debut in Adelaide last December, Stokes voiced his gratitude to England’s then team director Andy Flower for giving him a “second chance” at an international career.
He repaid the faith with his all-round performances, one of the very few bright spots for England as they endured a miserable Ashes campaign.
Joe Root, one of England’s most gifted young batsmen, has already been ruled out of the tournament, which begins in Bangladesh on Sunday, after breaking a thumb earlier in the tour of the Caribbean.
England captain Stuart Broad is also a doubt with a knee problem, while Eoin Morgan has also been hampered by a similar injury.
