OPINION:
Ben Stokes is taking a break.
The Christchurch-born English cricketer and hero of the 2019 Cricket World Cup is certainly one of the biggest stars in the game. But his mental health isn't great. Understandably, the death of his dad last year has had a really big impact on him. Because of Covid-19, and at the behest of his dad, Ben Stokes couldn't make it back it back to Christchurch for the funeral. Now, he wants to take some time. The break is indefinite.
That's three very high-profile sportspeople then, in the space of just a couple of months. Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, and now Ben Stokes, have all come out and said they need to step back.