The England Cricket Board (ECB) is adopting a cautious approach with its players following the injury of Test skipper Ben Stokes. This strategy has led to the withdrawal of star pacer Gus Atkinson from the final of The Hundred competition, following the recent decision to pull Chris Woakes from participating as well.
Atkinson, who had played only one match for his franchise, the Oval Invincibles, will now miss the significant final clash. Despite Atkinson’s absence, the Invincibles are already set for the final after achieving the top spot in the eight-team table, therefore avoiding the longer route via the Eliminator round. The Invincibles’ skipper, Sam Billings, confirmed this development stating, “Gus has been withdrawn, which is quite understandable. It’s disappointing for him, but Saqib Mahmood has been phenomenal for us throughout the tournament and showed his class the other night. He’ll stay in the side.”
The team navigates additional challenges, being without pacer Spencer Johnson, who is sidelined due to an injury. However, there is a silver lining as pacer Tom Curran is set to make a return after being rested during the Invincibles’ last group game against the Trent Rockets on Wednesday, August 14. In that same game, Atkinson featured prominently, though he returned with figures of 0/28 in his 10 deliveries. Remarkably, the 26-year-old pacer was honored as the Player of the Series in the recent England vs. West Indies Test series, where he took an impressive 22 wickets against the Windies in his debut series.
The ECB’s cautious stance comes in light of the injury to Ben Stokes, the England Test captain, who plays for the Northern Superchargers. Stokes tore his hamstring during a match against the Manchester Originals on August 11. This injury prompted ECB to make the prudent decision to pull speedster Chris Woakes from the final week of the Hundred to manage player workload ahead of the crucial England vs.
. Sri Lanka Test series.
In spite of Woakes and Atkinson being pulled out, several other players like Birmingham Phoenix’s Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett, along with the Invincibles’ Jordan Cox, remain available for the final despite being named in the Test squad for the upcoming series, slated to begin on August 21, just three days after the Hundred final. “Jordan will be available, and I think that’s great for him,” remarked Billings. “I’ve been in that position before where, as a young player, you’re withdrawn and miss out on playing time. For anyone to play in a final at Lord’s in the leading domestic competition in the country, in front of a packed house, is perfect preparation for international cricket.”
Simultaneously, there’s optimism surrounding the participation of Jofra Archer for Southern Brave during the knockouts. “I’ve not heard otherwise, so I’m hoping that’s the case,” said Southern Brave skipper James Vince. “Obviously, we’ve got tomorrow to take care of first, but as I understand it, he is available for both should we make the final. I can’t give you 100% confirmation because I don’t know that myself, to be honest. But there’s not much travel involved and it’s only 20 balls [per match], so I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
The Oval Invincibles will face either Birmingham Phoenix or Southern Brave in the final. The Eliminator match is set for Saturday, August 17, with the final slated for Sunday, August 18, promising an exciting climax to The Hundred tournament. The ECB’s proactive decisions regarding player welfare underscore their commitment to maintaining the health and readiness of the national team as they move towards the crucial ENG vs. SL Test series. The organization continues to balance the demands of domestic competition with the requirements of international fixtures, ensuring that their players are adequately prepared and protected, thereby fostering a sustainable future for England cricket.
