ECB chief responds to Ben Stokes’ packed schedule warning

image-l6gkr835Ben Stokes voices concerns of gruelling schedule

England’s Test skipper Ben Stokes recently retired from ODI cricket following the first ODI game against South Africa. The maverick all-rounder cited the busy schedule behind his exit from the format. 

Moreover, he along with teammate Jonny Bairstow also opted out from this year’s The Hundred.

After the retirement, Stokes claimed that he wanted to focus on Test leadership and keep playing T20 cricket. Speaking on the rising demand of international cricket, he said:

"We are not cars; you can't just fill us up and we'll go out there and be ready to be fuelled up again. There is too much cricket rammed in for people to play all three formats now.”

As it turns out, his concerns have been heard by the top brass of ECB, with interim chief executive Clare Connor agreeing with the all-round legend.


Ben Stokes schedule warning heard: ECB Chief

Connor, who became ECB’s chief executive back in June when Tom Harrison left his post,  while responding to Stokes complaints said:

“We have listened closely to what Ben has said. It's something that we have got to grapple with - that's us with players, other boards, the International Cricket Council and the Professional Cricketers' Association. 

"The players are at the heart of what we need to do to take the game forward. Without them, we don't have a game that has got the wow factor to inspire."

Connor is set to stay in the interim role at least until September and has not ruled out applying for the job on a full-time basis.


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