IPL 2022 Auction: Stokes wants to focus on Test cricket: Talismanic England all-rounder Ben Stokes has revealed that playing Test cricket is his number one priority. The southpaw was a notable absentee on the list of 590 players who will go under the hammer on 12th and 13th February, for the IPL 2022 Auction. Stokes missing the T20 tournament came as a big jolt to the 10 franchises as he is one of modern cricket’s best all-rounders, but he has stated that his primary focus now is on Test cricket.
“Test cricket is absolutely my number one priority, and I want to work alongside Joe Root, the best man we could have as captain, to get us there. It is why I thought long and hard about whether to go to the IPL or not and felt that this was not about money but about where my priorities are. I wouldn’t be fair on any team I signed up for if I wasn’t totally focused on things out there,” Stokes said to Daily Mirror.
IPL 2022 Auction: Ben Stokes gives big THUMBS DOWN to IPL, says ‘Test Cricket is my No. 1 priority, not playing in IPL’
IPL 2022 Auction: Ben Stokes’ IPL Career
- Stokes was bought by Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017 for INR 14.5 crore.
- In his first IPL season, he scored 316 runs and picked up 12 wickets, which earned him the MVP award
- Rajasthan Royals signed Stokes for INT 12.5 crore in 2018.
- After suffering a finger injury in the first match, Stokes was ruled out of the entire IPL 2021.
- The injury also forced him to miss the Test series against India.
IPL 2022 Auction: Ben Stokes gives big THUMBS DOWN to IPL, says ‘Test Cricket is my No. 1 priority, not playing in IPL’
Ben Stokes said, "Test cricket is my No.1 priority, hence I skipped the IPL. It's not about money, but about where my priorities are." (To Daily Mirror).
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 8, 2022
IPL 2022 Auction: Ben Stokes gives big THUMBS DOWN to IPL, says ‘Test Cricket is my No. 1 priority, not playing in IPL’
England had a horrendous year in 2021 in red-ball cricket, which also included a 4-0 Ashes defeat Down Under. The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are counting on players like Stokes to get the team out of the rut. The Three Lions are due to play West Indies for three-Test match series starting on March 8.
IPL 2022 Auction: Ben Stokes gives big THUMBS DOWN to IPL, says ‘Test Cricket is my No. 1 priority, not playing in IPL’
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