...WE ALL DO

BEN STOKES knows the chances of cricket, or any sport, taking place any time soon are slim or none.

But the England all-rounder is keeping his mind and body firmly on the job to combat the physical and mental effects of the lockdown.

He said: “It is a very difficult situation for everybody, that’s the most important thing to stress.

“From my point of view, my next scheduled cricket is the Indian Premier League so I have to have a mindset that I could be playing on April 20.

“So what would I normally do to prepare for that?

“I have to try and make myself do that on the off-chance that we do go ahead. I just can’t be of the mindset that I am just going to chill.

“Three weeks of doing nothing takes a serious amount of getting back. I always keep myself fit.”

And to help that, Red Bull are providing Stokes with home gym equipment.

“I’m a Red Bull athlete and I’m lucky they are looking after all the team both physically and mentally,” said Stokes.

Indeed, for a mental distraction, Stokes will be having a go on a Formula One simulator.

But there is no doubt he will find a long stretch without any cricket psychologically tough.

Stokes explained: “My work is pretty much 365 days a year. I’m active all year round. I’ve got to be doing something.

“And if I’m not keeping myself busy, I’m not keeping myself fit, I might get into a place, mentally, where I don’t want to be.

“That’s why I have to keep active. We all do.”