Yahoo Finance Ben Stokes opens up on wellbeing battle and finger injury as “buzzing” England star prepares for Ashes return
Ben Stokes is “buzzing” to return for England at The Ashes after announcing the end of his hiatus from cricket.
Anticipation for the tour Down Under grew on Monday when the all-rounder confirmed his availability, following a break from the game due to a finger injury and mental health issues.
The 30-year-old has opened up on the “dark place” he was in when taking a step back from the game but is confident that is now behind him.
He wrote in the Mirror: “I feel much better about everything from my finger to my mental well-being. I know I can focus once again on playing my best cricket Down Under this winter.”
Stokes announced his “indefinite” break in July having suffered with a finger injury for a number of months. Now repaired, he praised doctors for making his finger feel “like new again”.
The injury was described as a larger trigger than Stokes realised as he made his brief departure from the sport, and he paid tribute to those who have helped him return for the Ashes.
He added: “I had also been struggling with bubble life and events off the field. I don’t want anyone to feel the way I did, because I wasn’t in a good place and I’m not afraid to admit it.
“I was in a real dark place and having some difficult thoughts. I was always one of those people who wouldn’t talk about how they are feeling and just keep it internal and crack on. I now realise talking is such a powerful thing and it has completely changed me.
“Talking to my wife, talking to close friends like [Joe] Rooty, it has really helped as too the professionals I have worked with.”
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