Kumar Sangakkara Sympathises With Ben Stokes Over Mental Health Break

Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara said players could "only deal with so much" after it was announced England all-rounder Ben Stokes was taking an indefinite break from all forms of cricket to "prioriti

"A lot of time away from home, in bubbles, restrictions in terms of freedom of movement, then the added pressures of performing at such a high level in the public eye. He added: "We've had a host of elite athletes who've spoken about mental wellbeing and the effects of Covid and the pressure around it, and of course pressure in the limelight, that have led to them making some very tough decisions."

Stokes, who in normal circumstances would be vice-captain to Test skipper Joe Root, is a key figure for England. In 71 Tests, he has scored 4,631 runs at 37.04 as a dynamic left-handed batsman, including 10 hundreds, and taken 163 wickets at 31.38.

More than raw figures, however, it is his ability to balance the side and above all, turn a game with either bat or ball that makes Stokes such a valuable player. His stunning unbeaten hundred that saw England to a remarkable one-wicket win in a 2019 Ashes Test at Headingley was one of several match-winning contributions.

As as well as playing under the shadow of Covid-19, the past year has also seen Stokes coping with the death of his father Ged, a former New Zealand rugby league international, from brain cancer.

"I hope he's OK - he's a fabulous cricketer, one of the best in the world at the moment," said former England batsman Kevin Pietersen. "He obviously lost his dad, there are a lot of things that have happened to Ben Stokes in the last couple of years."

Stokes' break was announced just hours after the ECB said player welfare was "paramount" ahead of the upcoming Ashes tour of Australia amid concerns some of their side may not make the trip unless coronavirus restrictions currently in force in Australia are relaxed.

In particular, all-format players such as Stokes, a husband and the father of young children, could be separated from their families for up to four months due to the five-Test Ashes series starting just weeks after the November finish of the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman.