"He’s already texted me saying he’s going to be the coach" - Stuart Broad on Ben Stokes' role during injury layoff
Former England pacer Stuart Broad has stated that Ben Stokes will keep a close eye on the team during his brief absence from the game. The England skipper has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka after tearing his hamstring while playing for the Northern Superchargers in The Men's Hundred 2024.
In Stokes' absence, vice-captain Ollie Pope will lead the team as England continue to make the most of the momentum from their 3-0 whitewash over the West Indies. England are slowly climbing up the standings in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table after a difficult start, which included assignments against India and Australia.
Broad said he received a text from Stokes stating that he would be overseeing some of the coaching duties instead of being idle.
“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 told the PA News Agency.
Broad also shed light on the unfortunate nature of the injury and backed Stokes' decision to play the Hundred to maintain his match fitness during the off-period.
“He’s someone who likes to bat, likes to bowl. Ultimately you probably up your injury risk if you’re not playing any sort of intensity cricket.You can’t not play any cricket from the end of the West Indies series through to the start of the Sri Lanka series because your body will then be in the field the first day of Sri Lanka going ‘what are you doing, what’s going on?'" Broad added.
“You’re better off in a match than nets; I used to hate nets, I needed match intensity and The Hundred was the cricket that was going on that suited that the best. Not that he (Stokes) spent much time in the middle in his games particularly, but he was still playing for his mental sharpness against the world’s best players, Tim Southee etc," he continued.
Stokes played three matches in The Hundred 2024, scoring four runs in the process. He was dismissed for a golden duck by Tim Southee in his return to the tournament after three years and failed to make an impression in the rest of his appearances as well.
"It actually gives England the chance to play against Sri Lanka with a make-up of team without Ben Stokes" - Stuart Broad
The former pacer added that England should use the opportunity to prepare for life beyond Ben Stokes. The skipper has been an integral part of the red-ball side for several years, and despite him not bowling as frequently as before, he has brought a lot to the table with his leadership.
“There’s not much you can do about a hamstring really. It’s not as if he landed awkwardly or anything, he was just in deceleration mode. It’s a real shame for the Test-match team because he looked so fit. He’s worked so hard on his fitness," Broad remarked.
“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. 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?" the former pacer concluded.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) pulled Chris Woakes out of The Hundred 2024 following Ben Stokes' injury to avoid a similar debacle. The three-match Test series against Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin from August 21 onwards.