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England Fielding Coach Shuns Rumours About Stokes Leaving World Cup 2023 For Surgery

image-lopi10nnBen Stokes is facing knee injury issues [AP Photo]

England banked heavily on the returning all-rounder Ben Stokes to help the Three Lions defend their coveted World Cup title in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

However, injury concern and lack of form has held the star player back, which has rattled England's team combination resulting in them being knocked out of the CWC 2023.

Test captain Stokes has been forced to play as a specialist batter in the tournament owing to a left knee injury, that has troubled the player since IPL 2023.

With England already out of semi-final contention, calls for Stokes to head home for early surgery started doing the rounds, which has been dispelled by fielding coach Carl Hopkinson.

As quoted by ESPNcricinfo, ahead of England's tie against the Netherlands today at Pune, Hopkinson confirmed that the 32-year-old has no plans of heading off to England, and will have his surgery as planned, which is post the World Cup. 

Here's what Hopkinson said

"I just got asked that question. I mean, I think, knowing Ben, like I do and like you do, he'll want to try and play the next game in front of him and try and win that for England. He's about winning games of cricket for England, so I'd imagine that's what he'll be thinking about first and foremost. 

Once he's obviously made that decision to have the operation, that's obviously booked in and that's what he's going to do. It's not before this tournament finishes. So, I'd imagine that's what Ben will be thinking,"

Stokes, who overturned his ODI retirement for the competition, has managed just 112 runs in four matches, with one fifty, which is well below his standards.