Stokes could miss Ashes after finger operation

Ben Stokes

England all-rounder Ben Stokes could miss the Ashes series in Australia after undergoing another operation on his injured finger, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced yesterday. The 30-year-old has not played since July, when it was announced he was taking a break to focus on his mental well-being and to rest his left index finger. “Ben Stokes has undergone a second operation on Monday 4 October to address ongoing issues with the finger that he injured in the IPL (Indian Premier League) in April,” the ECB said in a statement. “Stokes had two screws and scar tissue removed from the index finger of his left hand. “He will now undergo an intensive period of rehabilitation for the next four weeks under the supervision of the ECB’s medical team.” The operation places his participation in England’s five-Test series in Australia, scheduled to start in Brisbane on December 8, in serious doubt. Concerns over player welfare and Australia’s strict coronavirus restrictions have led to fears the tour may not take place. The ECB is meeting this week to decide whether the Ashes can go ahead, with reports suggesting there have been positive talks with Cricket Australia. Stokes burnished his reputation as England’s talisman during the 2019 Ashes, when his unbeaten 135 helped England chase a record fourth-innings target of 359 at Headingley with one wicket remaining. The all-rounder announced himself in Test cricket in the 2013/14 Ashes, scoring his maiden Test century in tough batting conditions in Perth but Australia completed a 5-0 whitewash. Stokes missed England’s last tour of Australia in 2017/18 after his involvement in a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub. He was subsequently found not guilty of affray. The tourists missed Stokes’ contributions with bat and ball as Australia eased to a 4-0 series win to regain the urn.Watmore steps down as ECB chairman after 13 months in charge Ian Watmore has left his role as chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) by mutual consent after 13 months in charge, it was announced yesterday. Watmore was appointed in September 2020 on a five-year term, replacing Colin Graves. Deputy Chair Barry O’Brien will take over as interim chair. “It is with regret that I step down as Chair of the ECB, but I do so in mindfulness of my own well-being and that of the game which I love,” said Watmore. “I was appointed to the post in a pre-pandemic era, but Covid has meant the role and its demands on time are dramatically different to all our original expectations, which has taken a personal toll on me. Given this, the Board and I feel the ECB will be better served by a new Chair to take it forward post pandemic.” The ECB said in a statement: “He has reached a mutual agreement with the Board to stand down following the end of the domestic season and after helping to steer the game through the challenges of Covid over the past year. “The decision follows a successful summer of domestic and international men’s and women’s cricket, the launch of The Hundred and record numbers playing the game recreationally.” Watmore, a former chief executive of the Football Association, was under pressure since making the decision to cancel England’s tour to Pakistan – scheduled for later this month – due to security concerns. He later apologised for cancelling the tour and admitted that the decision was taken by him and the board rather than in consultation with the England players. The ECB added that it would shortly begin a process to appoint a new chairman.