'Dad told me I have a duty to do my job and I also have a duty as a husband and father': Ben Stokes reveals his ill father Ged backed his return to cricket after compassionate leave

Ben Stokes has spoken of the emotional decision to end his compassionate leave to be with his ill father Ged and play in the Indian Premier League.

Stokes, 29, has not played cricket since the first week of August after deciding to spend time with his dad, who has brain cancer, mum Deb and older brother James in Christchurch, New Zealand.

‘I didn’t know what dad wanted, I didn’t know what mum wanted — so to start that conversation off was the hardest thing of all,’ Stokes, who joined up with Rajasthan Royals on Sunday, told the Daily Mirror.