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Ben Stokes urges players to shine in county cricket to push for England selection
As the English cricketing calendar turns toward a highly anticipated home summer, Ben Stokes has made England’s selection pathway clear, outlining that the performance in the County Championship remains the gateway to the national Test side. England’s red-ball captain emphasised that the domestic season is not only preparatory cricket, but it is the primary stage for players aiming to break into or return to the Test squad. England have a packed international schedule, with Stokes signalling that consistency in county cricket will play a big role in selection decisions.
"I think it's a great opportunity for a lot of people around the country. Obviously, we had the Lions in Australia at the same time as we were, so you look at some of the players that are coming through that system at the moment. The talent that we have in England is just unquestionable. The pool of players, the talent that we have, it's probably as good as it's been in a very long time,” Ben Stokes said in a video.
However, Stokes himself is currently on the sidelines. The all-rounder had initially planned to turn out for Durham County Cricket Club at the start of the season, but a facial injury has temporarily halted those plans. He suffered a broken cheekbone during a net session in February while assisting teammates, an incident that has delayed his return to competitive action.
"The first six or seven weeks of Championship cricket, I think it's going to be a very big one, and people should use that as an opportunity to push their case as far forward as they possibly can and I hope they're giving themselves the best chance of coming up for selection when we get together to do that," Stokes added.
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