Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali have both withdrawn from this year’s Hundred, with Stokes prioritizing his fitness ahead of England’s Ashes tour and Moeen stepping away from county cricket to focus on global franchise leagues.
For Stokes, the decision aligns with his ongoing efforts to manage his workload and prolong his career. His history with the Hundred has been plagued by misfortune, with five appearances yielding just 14 runs at an average of 3.50. Last season, while playing for Northern Superchargers, he suffered a serious hamstring injury that sidelined him for two months. A recurrence of the injury during England’s tour of New Zealand led to surgery, and since then, his focus has been on full recovery.
The England Test captain had already opted out of this year’s Indian Premier League, stating that it was about “looking at what I’ve got ahead” and making decisions that would allow him to sustain his playing career. The Hundred begins just a day after England’s five-Test series against India concludes at The Oval, with the Superchargers’ first match scheduled two days later against Welsh Fire at Headingley. With an Ashes series in Australia starting in November, Stokes has chosen to build some space into his schedule to ensure he is in peak condition.
Moeen’s decision to step away from county cricket means Birmingham Phoenix will lose a key player and leader. The all-rounder, who has captained the team in all but two of their 32 matches over four seasons, has decided to focus on global franchise leagues while taking on a player-coach role at Warwickshire for the T20 Blast. Although he plans to be available for the group stage, should Warwickshire reach the quarter-finals, he will shift exclusively to a coaching role.
Reflecting on his decision, Moeen expressed his continued passion for the game and his desire to remain involved both as a player and as a mentor. He emphasized his enjoyment of discussing tactics and working with younger players, suggesting a natural transition into coaching once his playing days are over.
The timing of these announcements coincides with the upcoming retention and direct signing period for the eight teams in the Hundred. Each franchise can retain up to eight players from their 2024 squads, with final lists set to be revealed soon. Alex Hales had already confirmed his withdrawal from the tournament to participate in Major League Cricket in the US and the Caribbean Premier League.
Stokes and Moeen’s absences will be felt in the competition, but both players have made strategic decisions to focus on their long-term careers, whether through fitness management or embracing new opportunities in the franchise circuit.Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali Withdraw from The Hundred to Focus on Future Commitments
