Former England seamer Steve Harmison has advised Ben Stokes to skip the last two matches of the 2023 World Cup and focus on regaining full fitness for the upcoming Test series against India in early 2024.
Harmison, emphasizing the challenges in India, compared the tour to the Ashes, stating that it will be “twice as hard.”
Struggling with a knee issue, Stokes has missed the first three World Cup matches and will undergo knee surgery after the ongoing event.
With approximately eight weeks to recover before the crucial five-Test series against India, Harmison stressed the importance of giving Stokes ample time for rehabilitation.
Speaking to PA News Agency, Harmison highlighted the unpredictability of post-surgery recovery.
“Results after a major operation and the rehabilitation process are uncertain. Take the additional time, it might determine if you’re fit for the first or third Test. Ben Stokes is the crucial figure in the Test set-up, they require their leader, hence the need for him to return home. The upcoming India tour will be doubly challenging compared to the Ashes due to the conditions, making Stokes more crucial than ever,” he said.
England’s recent Test tours to India have been challenging, with losses of 4-0 in 2016 and 3-1 in 2021. Despite the difficulties, England remains the last team to defeat India in a Test series on their home turf.