Jacob Bethell: Ben Stokes explains England selection of 21-year-old
After returning from Pakistan, where England lost 2-1, Stokes announced on social media that a gang burgled his house during the second Test, while Clare and their two children were at home. A 32-year-old man has since been arrested.
Asked if he considered leaving the tour, Stokes replied: “I did actually. It was my wife who told me not to. I always tell the lads that kind of stuff comes first. I asked my wife and she was adamant that I needed to stay out there.”
On the field, Stokes endured one of his “hardest” trips in Pakistan. Battling back from a hamstring injury, the all-rounder missed the first Test, then struggled in the final two.
He apologised to the team after showing frustration for dropped catches in the second Test and was bizarrely lbw playing no shot in the second innings of the third. Afterwards, McCullum said England had to “wrap our arms” around Stokes.
“I got so individually focused on myself over a long period of time trying to get back from injury, I actually I did physically drain and ruin myself,” said Stokes. “That definitely had some kind of mental impact on me.
“It’s made me realise that I can’t take myself into that sort of area ever again, because not only does it have an impact on myself, but also has a massive impact on the team.
“There’s no doubt that my frustration was showing when things weren’t quite going our way. Everyone’s sort of treading on eggshells around you, because they can sense it.”
The captain said he “cleared the air” with his players when they arrived in Queenstown to prepare for this series last week.
Stokes had travelled to New Zealand before the England team to surprise members of his family who live in Christchurch.
Stokes was born here in 1991, before moving to Wellington at the age of 10, then Cumbria aged 12 when his father Ged got a job as a rugby league coach. Ged passed away in 2020, but Stokes’ mother Deb and brother James remain in Christchurch.
“This tour is more than just cricket for me,” said Stokes. “It’s a chance to catch up with family who I don’t get to see. You know, pretty much the whole of the Stokes family is in Christchurch.”
