Ben Stokes takes indefinite break from cricket to 'prioritise' mental well-being
London, Jul 30: Star England all-rounder Ben Stokes has taken an indefinite break from the game to "prioritise his mental well-being" and withdrawn from the home Test series against India beginning August 4.
In a statement, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has also said that Stokes has taken the break to also rest his left index finger, "which has not fully healed since his return to competitive cricket earlier this month".
Managing Director of England men's cricket, Ashley Giles, said the ECB supports Stokes' decision.
"Ben has shown tremendous courage to open up about his feelings and well-being. Our primary focus has always been and will continue to be the mental health and welfare of all of our people," said Giles, also a former England spinner.
Being in a protected environment for months has taken a toll on the players, he said.
"The demands on our athletes to prepare and play elite sport are relentless in a typical environment, but the ongoing pandemic has acutely compounded this."
"Spending significant amounts of time away from family, with minimal freedoms, is extremely challenging.
"The cumulative effect of operating almost continuously in these environments over the last 16 months has had a major impact on everyone's well-being."
Giles added that Stokes will be given all the time he needs to get back to his best shape both physically and mentally.
"Ben will be given as long as he needs, and we look forward to seeing him playing cricket for England in the future," he said.
Craig Overton has replaced Stokes in the England squad for the India series. Stokes' withdrawal is a major blow to England, who lost to New Zealand at home last month after losing the away series in India in February-March.
Mental health of cricketers in COVID times has become a topic of constant discussion with the players having to play in bio-bubbles for months.
Ahead of the World Test Championship final against New Zealand last month, India skipper Virat Kohli had made it clear that mental health management will become a norm if cricket is continued to be played in bio-bubbles with players requiring breaks to "disconnect from the game".
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is another notable name who has spoken extensively about the need to address mental health issues, having taken a break himself from the game in 2019.
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Bengaluru: Power supply to be cut to unauthorised buildings after Kumbarapet fire
Bengaluru: A day after a major fire broke out at a hardware warehouse in Kumbarapet near Chikkapete, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) on Thursday ordered disconnection of electricity supply to unauthorised buildings in the area.
The authority also directed officials to issue notices to halt construction activities being carried out in violation of sanctioned building plans. According to a report published by The Indian Express, the GBA warned that if illegal portions of buildings are not removed, criminal cases should be registered against the owners.
The fire occurred around 9 am on Wednesday at Lakshmi Commercial Complex, a three-storey structure housing a hardware warehouse. The blaze is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit on the ground floor, resulting in extensive damage.
Fire and Emergency Services personnel faced difficulty accessing the congested market area due to narrow roads. Hose lines had to be laid from more than 300 metres away before the fire could be brought under control.
The GBA has constituted a committee to prepare a comprehensive report on steps required to prevent and manage fire incidents in the commercial areas of Chikkapete. The committee includes representatives from the GBA, the Central City Corporation, the Fire and Emergency Services Department and the Electricity Department.
The Indian Express reported that GBA Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao has instructed officials to inspect the site and convene a meeting with trade associations to discuss mandatory fire safety measures. He also recalled similar fire incidents reported last year in Nagarathpete within the Chikkapete area.
The newly formed committee has been tasked with conducting a detailed inquiry into the cause of the latest fire and recommending corrective measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
