look news india
London, May 15 (Hindustan Reporter) England Test team captain Ben Stokes will return to competitive cricket this week in the County Championship. Stokes is returning for Durham from the match against Lancashire.
Stokes' last competitive match was the final match of the India tour in early March. After withdrawing from the IPL, Stokes later made himself unavailable for next month's T20 World Cup to ensure he could play a full role with bat and ball in the Test summer. He had surgery on his left knee in November.
With almost two months left before the first Test against West Indies at Lord's starting on July 10, Stokes will begin his practice in Blackpool on Friday. Durham are fifth in Division One with one win and three draws.
Head coach Ryan Campbell was excited by the impact Stokes was having on his team and the competition as a whole.
“We are looking forward to getting our season started and we are looking forward to welcoming England captain Ben Stokes to our team for the first time – it will be absolutely amazing,” Campbell told BBC Radio Newcastle on Tuesday. “I suggest if you have a few days at the weekend you go to Blackpool and watch the return of the great Ben Stokes to Durham.”
“Players always want to play against the best players in the competition,” he said. To have one of those players on our own team showing us the way, his experience, it's incredible.”
Stokes, 32, played all five matches in England's 4-1 defeat in India, but only bowled in the final Test. He dismissed Rohit Sharma on his very first ball and ultimately bowled only five overs.