BEN’S BACK

Stokes returns to England for T20s in South Africa but he, Archer and Curran will be rested for the ODI series

BEN STOKES will be back in an England shirt this month for the first time since his compassionate leave in the summer to see his dad in New Zealand.

But the all-rounder who plays all formats will be given an early break from the tour to South Africa after the T20 series along with Jofra Archer and Sam Curran as England tr y to manage their players’ workloads and bubble time.

Stokes was put through two bouts of quarantine, first when he arrived in New Zealand and then when he arrived in Dubai for the second half of the Indian Premier League.

It is those periods of solitary confinement for a social animal such as Stokes as well as the emotional turmoil he has been through that has led to him being rested from the one-day international porortion of the tour that departs on

November 16.

Archer (below left) and Curran

(below right) also spent extensive periods i n several bio-bubbles this summer before heading to the IPL.

And while Jos Buttler did the same, he was able to have his wife and child join him in Dubai which is why he will be playing in both series.

While many won’t agree with the sentiment, it is a simple fact that the IPL, due to its size, wealth and prestige, has altered the global cricket landscape for good. And if the ECB want their best players to be at their best for th eir most i mpor t ant contests and tournaments, then they must find some way of preventing burnout.

“Ben is an exceptional competitor, a winner and someone who gives to the team,” said national selector Ed Smith (above). “It’s great to see him back in the T20 set-up and back in an England shirt. The ECB’S position has been to allow players to play in the IPL and we are going to take opportunities to rest one or two players when we think it’s a good opportunity to do so, the second half of this white-ball tour is an example.

“I don’t think it’s a question of b e i ng t o o t i red . It ’s more nuanced. It is about giving them a break when we believe it’s in England’s best interests.

“If you look at the commitment shown to England by those three players – Curran, Archer and Stokes – and their big performances in an England shirt, I don’t think anyone could question their commitment to the cause.”

Joe Root remains on the outside of the T20 set-up looking in, while Reece Topley has made both squads almost five years after his last overseas trip with England to the 2016 World T20.