STOKES LEAVES ENGLAND CAMP

BEN STOKES is out of action for the rest of the summer after deciding to put family first.

The England all-rounder and Mirror Sport columnist has withdrawn from the squad to play the final two Tests against

Pakistan and will instead spend time with his family in New Zealand.

Stokes has had a typically huge impact on the field this summer.

He helped England to a series win over the West Indies – standing in as captain for Joe Root for a Test – and playing his part in Saturday’s opening victory against Pakistan.

But at the conclusion of the match he informed his team-mates that he would have to support them from afar as he leaves the bio-secure bubble and flies to Christchurch.

Stokes has been given permission by the ECB to spend as much time as he needs with his family.

With regulations over quarantine changing every day, it is highly unlikely that he will make it back in time to play any further part in the summer schedule that is expected to include white-ball matches against Australia.

The 29-year-old must quarantine for two weeks on arrival in New Zealand even though he has consistently tested negative for coronavirus inside the England team bubble.

Despite the distance, the Stokes family are a close unit.

The serious illness suffered by his father Ged, a former rugby league international, in December during the tour to South Africa hit them all hard. While Ben continued on the tour, playing a starring role, his father remained in a Johannesburg hospital recovering with his wife Deborah by his side.

England is important, but family comes first. Stokes was not available for comment, asking only that his family’s privacy is respected.

CHRIS WOAKES is being backed to repeat his excellence with bat and ball as England try to seal a first series double for three years. With Ben Stokes having played his last Test of the summer at Old Trafford, Woakes showed he can match his more illustrious teammate. And skipper Joe Root reckons his very own Mr Dependable (left) has moved to a whole new level after watching him guide the side home with 84 not out in a three-wicket first Test win against Pakistan. “I referred to him in the other Test match as Mr Dependable and you can always trust that he will deliver what you want,” said Root. “He is so consistent, on and off the field. “An innings like this can give you so much confidence and he will take that forward.”

PRIVACY Stokes has asked that his privacy be respected