Continuing with ways of showing the love for his bereaved father, England all-rounder Ben Stokes wore a black arm band on the first day of the first Ashes Test at Gabba. The arm band had the number 568—which was his father’s cap number when he played for New Zealand Rugby League in the year 1982.
Ben Stokes has been very emotional about his father and paid rich tributes to him before the start of the Gabba Test.
“I wasn’t sure if I would ever walk out onto a field ever again a few months ago, I find it amazing that when I do walk out tomorrow I’ll be remembering you exactly 1 year on since you left us….You are gonna be with me this whole week," Stokes wrote in an Instagram post paying tribute to his father.
Stokes’ father, Ged Stokes was diagnosed with brain cancer midway through the last year that compelled the all-rounder to head to New Zealand leaving his assignment with England behind him. Later, he succumbed to the same illness towards the end of the last year.
Ben Stokes was added late to the England Test squad for the Ashes series after opting out of a major part of the English summer against India due to complicated finger injury and mental health issues.