Ben Stokes losing no sleep over World Test Championship qualification, England captain says, 'it's utterly confusing'

World Test Championship is a bit confusing, I don't look at it: Says England captain Ben Stokes.

England may be out of contention, but they’re not losing any sleep over it, according to Test captain Ben Stokes. Speaking to the BBC ahead of the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch, Stokes mentioned that he couldn’t recall ever specifically thinking about the World Test Championship.

"The World Test Championship is a bit confusing. I don’t look at it,” said Stokes.

"Over a long period of time, if you’re playing really good cricket, you’re getting results that you want, you’ll end up finding yourself in the final and in the mix."

"For me and this team it’s about taking it game by game, series by series, and if you end up finding yourself in the position where you happen to be in the final, then it’s great. I can’t really ever remember if I’ve ever given any real time specifically to thinking about the World Test Championship,” he added.

He also informed that he opted out of the bidding in the Indian Premier League to prioritize playing international cricket in what he described as the “back end” of his career.

Ben Stokes, one of cricket's biggest stars, chose to sit out the lucrative IPL this year, prioritizing workload management following persistent knee issues. He was also a notable absentee from the auction for the 2025 edition.

Having previously signed a $2 million contract with the Chennai Super Kings for last season, Stokes could have commanded another significant fee. However, his focus appears to lie elsewhere.

“I obviously want to play as long as I possibly can," Stokes told the BBC the day before England begins its test series against New Zealand. "Looking after my body and looking after myself as much as I can is key to that — prioritizing games and when I do play.

"It’s about looking at what I’ve got ahead and making the decision that I think is right for me to be able to prolong my career as long as possible. I want to be wearing this England shirt for as long as I can."

New Zealand is coming off a historic 3-0 series win in India, while England has just lost a series 2-1 in Pakistan.