Ben Stokes set to make comeback for England in crucial World Cup match against South Africa

Ben Stokes has confirmed that he is fit to make his first appearance in the World Cup for England in their crucial match against South Africa in Mumbai on Saturday. Stokes had been sidelined due to a hip injury sustained in the gym, causing him to miss the team’s first three matches. England, who have lost two out of three games so far, desperately need a win to keep their title defense hopes alive.

Stokes expressed his determination to return to the team, stating, “I have worked very hard to get back to where I am and making myself ready to be available for selection.” He is expected to take part in England’s training session at the Wankhede Stadium later on Thursday evening. Stokes further added, “I’ll give it a good push but I think everything is pretty good. I am in a good place.”

The match against South Africa holds significant importance for England, as a defeat would likely require them to win all of their remaining matches to qualify for the semi-finals. South Africa, who had convincingly won their first two games against Sri Lanka and Australia, suffered a shocking loss to the Netherlands. This defeat came just two days after England themselves were beaten by Afghanistan.

Test captain Stokes took the opportunity to address the team after their loss, emphasizing the need to focus on the future. “We are only three games into a tournament. make sure we keep focusing forward,” Stokes said. He came out of retirement in 50-over cricket specifically to play in this tournament.

Stokes, who has been a key player for England throughout his career, played a pivotal role in their 2019 World Cup victory against New Zealand, earning him the player of the match award. He was also part of the team that won the T20 World Cup final last year and has played several crucial innings in Test cricket, including his heroic century in the 2019 Ashes at Headingley.

Despite his influential presence, Stokes downplayed the significance of his return and stressed the collective strength of the team. “No-one looks to one person in this team to inspire them or anything like that,” he said. “Everyone that walks out onto that field for England is a match-winner.”

As England prepares for their important clash against South Africa, they will be hoping that Stokes’ comeback can provide the much-needed inspiration and improvement to turn their campaign around.