England all-rounder Ben Stokes's father, Gerard 'Ged' Stokes died after a year-long battle with brain cancer. The 65-year-old breathed his last on Tuesday.

The news was announced by Workington Town, a rugby club for which Stokes Sr had played for in 1982-83 season before returning as their coach in 2003.

"All our thoughts are with Ben Stokes and his family following the passing of his father, Ged," said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

In 2019, when Ben was in South Africa for a Test series, his father was diagnosed with brain cancer. Ben had later left for New Zealand during the Test series against Pakistan in England with the ECB granting him an indefinite leave.

He returned to cricket in the UAE for IPL 2020 for Rajasthan Royals. The club on Twitter wrote, “It is with great sadness that we learn our former player and coach Ged Stokes has passed away. Ged is written into the rich fabric of Town history and will be greatly missed. “Our thoughts are with Deb, Ben and James. Ged still has many, many friends here in West Cumbria and we send our thoughts to them too,” the post added.

Ben Stokes is currently in South Africa for England's limited overs tour.