England captain Joe Root has told Ben Stokes to take as long as he needs away from cricket after the all-rounder opted to prioritise his mental health. After that, England face a winter series against Pakistan, the T20 World Cup, five Tests in Australia and three in the West Indies. "From my point of view, I just want my friend to be OK. Root conceded Stokes' absence would be felt in a tough series against India. "In my opinion, there's no one that compares to Ben Stokes in world cricket," Root said.

Source: News 24 August 02, 2021 14:15 UTC