Last Updated on 2 years by Charbel Coorey

Cricket News: Stokes to cut his IPL stint short for Ireland Test and Ashes | Ben Stokes to end IPL 2023 campaign early for Tests

England red-ball skipper Ben Stokes has confirmed that he will miss the latter stages of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 to prepare for the Three Lions’ Test summer starting with a fixture against Ireland at Lord’s on June 1.

“Yes, I will play (the Ireland Test). I will be making sure that I give myself enough time to get back and play that (Ireland) game,” Stokes was quoted in a report by ESPNcricinfo.

The IPL 2023 final will take place on May 28 and the Ashes commences from June 16 at Edgbaston. Stokes has steered England to victories in the 10 of the 11 Tests that he has captained in since taking over the leadership mantle from Joe Root last year.

Having retired from One Day Internationals (ODIs) already, the World Cup-winning star looks set to follow the example set by many overseas players in the past that have skipped the fag end of IPL to adhere to the international cricket schedule.

This is despite the 31-year-old having asserted earlier his commitment to feature in the coming edition of the IPL after missing out of the tournament last year.

Meanwhile, there is uncertainty over whether rest of Stokes’ English teammates will take the same route as him and skip the concluding stages of the IPL to better prepare for the Test summer. Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Joe Root, Mark Wood and Jonny Bairstow are the other Englaand Test regulars who have an IPL contract on their table as well.

Stokes mentioned that the players will be asked about their individual preference of going about preparing for the Ashes, thus allowing some of them to miss the Ireland game if need be.

“I will probably get round the individuals and ask them what they want to be ready for for the Ashes, because those five games are obviously the big ones of the summer, and you’ve got to think about what lads want. But what if something was to happen in that game (Ireland) and we lose someone for the Ashes,” the all-rounder said.

He added, “It’s just one of those where you have to weigh up the options of what the individual person actually wants out of that week, versus do we really need to play that one. Because, obviously, I’m right in saying that series is bigger than that game against Ireland.”

Acquired by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for Rs 16.25 crore, Stokes was the third-costliest pick in the IPL auction – only behind fellow countryman Sam Curran (Rs 18.25 crore) and Australian all-rounder Cameron Green (Rs 17.5 crore).