England all-rounder Ben Stokes’ father has been diagnosed with brain cancer in January after a trip to South Africa.

Ged, a former New Zealand rugby league player and Ben Stokes’ father, was admitted to hospital in Johannesburg ahead of England’s Boxing Day test with South Africa last year.

The cancer diagnosis was made on his return to New Zealand.

“They (doctors) had to assess how I travelled and from that they discovered I had a couple of tumours on my brain,” the Ben Stoke’s father told in an interview.

“So, basically brain cancer. How that came about nobody knows but obviously I’ve had a few bangs on my head through my life so that’s probably contributed to it.”

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According to the details, Stokes, who missed England’s final two Test matches against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl earlier this month, travelled to New Zealand citing family reasons.

“I didn’t sleep for a week and my head wasn’t really in it,” the 29-year-old vice-captain told. “Leaving (the team) was the right choice from a mental point of view.”

On the other hand, the England’s all-rounder has praised his father, and his experiences as professional rugby league player, for showing him the discipline required to be a professional sportsman.

“He was hard on me, especially as a teenager — 17, 18, 19, when you’re a bit rebellious — he was tough. But as I got older I realized it was all for a reason. He knew I wanted to be a professional sportsman and he was drilling that into me as I started to make a career in cricket,” Ben said.

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