Former England skipper Nasser Hussain has lashed out at the hectic scheduling for Ben Stokes’ injury. Stokes suffered a hamstring tear while playing for Northern Superchargers in the Hundred on Sunday.
Hussain reckons there are just too many formats of the game. Stokes has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka and Ollie Pope will lead the team in his absence.
Stokes has been ruled out for the remainder of the English summer and his injury is a massive blow for the team. Hussain reckons everyone from the board to broadcasters wants their share of the pie.
Hussain said on Sky Sports, “Injuries happen in any sport, professional sport, it could’ve been a Blast game, or County Championship games. I don’t think the format got him injured. There are just too many formats of the game. There’s too much pressure on everyone concerned with the game, whether it’s the ground staff, umpires, players. Everyone wanting their piece of the pie.”
“County members wanting 50-over cricket, County Championship cricket, rightly. Sky, BBC, ECB wanting The Hundred format as well. People of a certain age who love historically their cricket, wanting Test match cricket. In the end, when everyone wants a piece of the pie, something has to give. Rob Key has to sit there and he’ll be under pressure,” he added.
Meanwhile, earlier Jofra Archer had to spend a long time on the sideline due to an elbow injury. Hussain reckons players like Archer and Ben Stokes are paying for price for too much cricket.
“We hear James Vince at the toss, talk about Jofra. We are hugely disappointed that Jofra is not playing. James Vince says nothing to do with us, ECB have pulled him out. He’s a blow with a long-term history of injuries. You gotta look after your cricketers.”
“Everyone wants Ben Stokes to play in every format and a person who historically gets injured has got injured again. So, it’s a consequence of having Blast, Hundred, 50-over Metro Cup, County Championship, Test cricket in a county calendar and a calendar that’s only that finite, and in the end someone’s got give your… Something why our pitch is slightly poor this year.”
The opening Test match between England and Sri Lanka will be played at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester from August 21 onwards.
