England Test captain Ben Stokes says the standard of international cricket is being hurt by the sport’s packed schedule, with the star’s ODI retirement prompted by ‘unsupportable’ demands
- Ben Stokes believes the international calendar affects multi-format players
- The England star retired from one-day international cricket this summer
- Stokes said playing all three formats was ‘unsustainable’ due to scheduling
- England revived under Stokes’ captaincy of the Test team
Ben Stokes has vowed to maintain Test cricket’s status as the most important format of the game in a tighter schedule.
The England captain, who revamped the Test side with coach Brendon McCullum, has promised Ian Botham that he will continue his mission to make every day of Test cricket full of entertainment.
England’s two greatest all-rounders were brought together on BBC Radio 4’s Today program where Lord Botham, the show’s guest editor, said: ‘If we lose Test cricket, we lose the game as we know it.’
Ben Stokes retired from one-day internationals this year due to ‘unsustainable schedule’
He found a similar mindset in Stokes, who made it his mission not only to make England the No1 Test team in the world but also to revolutionize the grand old format globally to retain its appeal for the next generation.
‘Over the last few years, I’ve heard Test cricket talked about in a way I don’t like,’ said Stokes, from leading England to a 3-0 victory over Pakistan that extended their run under him to nine wins in 10 games.
‘It’s losing attention here with all the new formats. We understand that there are so many opportunities out there for players to find. But for me, Test cricket is very important for this game and always should be. I love playing Test cricket and I just felt, and have felt, that we can do something different as a team.
Stokes played a key role in England’s success in the 50-over World Cup in 2019
‘If you’ve got people coming and really excited about the cricket they’re going to watch, I feel like you’ve won before you’ve even bowled a ball. We knew we had a special opportunity to do something bigger than ourselves.’
Stokes’ problem is that the ever-increasing amount of white-ball cricket is seeing more and more franchise leagues competing with the international game, forcing first-class cricket into the margins and threatening the future of the Examination.
Stokes wanted an immediate review of the schedules and highlighted England’s three-match 50-over series against Australia, which quickly followed Jos Buttler’s white-ball side’s victory in the Twenty20 World Cup, as ‘a series which has no meaning’.
Stokes captained England’s Test team in a 3-0 series whitewash of Pakistan this month
‘Scheduling doesn’t get the attention it deserves,’ said Stokes, who retired from one-day international cricket last year because it was ‘unsustainable’ to play in all formats. ‘Some people say, “You play for England, that’s enough”, but there’s a lot more to factor in.
‘You want international cricket to be of the highest standard but we’ve seen a lot of different squads being picked and players being rested. That’s not the way international cricket should go.’
Stokes also thought he took a break from the game last year to protect his mental health. ‘I felt a certain way and I needed to take a break,’ he said. ‘I felt I needed help to get me back to where I am now.’
The England captain believes his team’s approach is exciting fans about the Test format again
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