Daily Times

England’s World Cup hero Ben Stokes feels cricket will not lose its competitive spirit if it is played behind closed doors and says he wouldn’t mind international cricket becoming a ‘TV only sport’ till the coronavirus pandemic is under control.

Voicing his opinion on whether the upcoming England-West Indies series at home would will lose its sheen if played behind closed doors, he remarked: “I don’t think so. Think about it, we are walking out to represent our country, three lions on our chest and there is game that we are supposed to win. So whether it is in front of nobody or like we are used to in-front of full crowd, I don’t think it’s going to take that competitive side away.”

Stokes, who helped England win the 2019 World Cup and starred in the Ashes, said it will, though, take some time to adjust to playing in front of empty stands.

“We are still not hundred percent sure when that’s going to happen. Everybody’s concern at the moment is safety and well-being of everybody.

Stokes stressed that the safety and well-being of everyone would remain the top priority.

“Players and ECB are not going to push anything until everybody is satisfied, without being having to worry about whether people are going to be exposed or put in danger to anything,” said Stokes.

“At the end of the day, cricket is just a sport and it’s the safety, health and well-being of everybody involved, not just in the team but around cricket community is important right now,” he added.