The father of England all-rounder Ben Stokes, a former rugby league player and coach, Ged Stokes has died after a battle with brain cancer, his former rugby club Workington Town announced on Tuesday.

Ged Stokes, 65, was diagnosed with illness in January and spent five weeks in hospital seriously ill in Johannesburg earlier this year. &nbsp;

Stokes, 65, had returned home to Christchurch in New Zealand with his wife Deborah, where he was living at the time of his death.&nbsp;

"It is with great sadness that we learn our former player and coach Ged Stokes has passed away,” his former rugby club Workington Town said in a statement.

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Sad news. RIP Ged. <a href="https://t.co/KmEDFuLRUd">pic.twitter.com/KmEDFuLRUd</a>
— Workington Town is wearen a fyas cuvveren (@WorkingtonTown) <a href="https://twitter.com/WorkingtonTown/status/1336280530506182656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"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."

Ged coached Workington Town’s fellow side Whitehaven and also took charge of Serbia in the international circuit.

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Earlier, Ben Stokes had left England’s bio-secure bubble during their series against Pakistan to spend time with his father and family. He also missed the first half of Indian Premier League in the UAE before joining his franchise Rajasthan Royals for the last phase of the tournament.&nbsp;

Prior to jetting off for India, the all-rounder wrote in his Mirror column: "Saying goodbye to my dad, my mum and my brother in Christchurch was tough. It has been a difficult time for us as a family, but we've pulled together and supported each other as best we can.

"And I was able to get on the plane with my parents' love and blessing after we reached the decision, for me to get back playing, as a family with no external influences."

The father of England all-rounder Ben Stokes, a former rugby league player and coach, Ged Stokes has died after a battle with brain cancer, his former rugby club Workington Town announced on Tuesday.

The father of England all-rounder Ben Stokes, a former rugby league player and coach, Ged Stokes has died after a battle with brain cancer, his former rugby club Workington Town announced on Tuesday. Ged Stokes, 65, was diagnosed with illness in January and spent five weeks in hospital seriously ill in Johannesburg earlier this year. Stokes, 65, had returned home to Christchurch in New Zealand with his wife Deborah, where he was living at the time of his death. "It is with great sadness that we learn our former player and coach Ged Stokes has passed away,” his former rugby club Workington Town said in a statement. Sad news. RIP Ged. pic.twitter.com/KmEDFuLRUd — Workington Town is wearen a fyas cuvveren (@WorkingtonTown) December 8, 2020 × ALSO READ: Virat Kohli left fuming as umpires deny India a DRS opportunity due to 'early' replay "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." Ged coached Workington Town’s fellow side Whitehaven and also took charge of Serbia in the international circuit. ALSO READ: Pakistan cricketers to leave New Zealand quarantine, cleared to train for 1st T20I Earlier, Ben Stokes had left England’s bio-secure bubble during their series against Pakistan to spend time with his father and family. He also missed the first half of Indian Premier League in the UAE before joining his franchise Rajasthan Royals for the last phase of the tournament. Prior to jetting off for India, the all-rounder wrote in his Mirror column: "Saying goodbye to my dad, my mum and my brother in Christchurch was tough. It has been a difficult time for us as a family, but we've pulled together and supported each other as best we can. "And I was able to get on the plane with my parents' love and blessing after we reached the decision, for me to get back playing, as a family with no external influences."

Ben Stokes' father, Ged, dies after brain cancer battle

The head coach of Rajasthan Royals, Andrew McDonald, has said that they are "not sure" about the availability of Ben Stokes in the IPL 2020 as he is with his ailing father in New Zealand.

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England's star all-rounder has been going through a tough phase in his life, he even pulled out of three-match series against Pakistan in August before the second Test to be with his father, diagnosed with brain cancer.&nbsp;

"First and foremost, thoughts with the Stokes family. It's a difficult scenario, so we're giving him as much time as he needs, and connecting with him as best we can," McDonald was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.&nbsp;

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"So yeah, we're not sure where Stokesy's at right now, but once it has played out, then we can make our decisions from there. But I don't want to second-guess what will happen with him just yet."

On December 23, 2019, Stokes' father Ged, who is a former New Zealand rugby league international, was admitted to hospital in Johannesburg due to serious illness.

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McDonald was also asked Rajasthan Royals' captain Steve Smith, who was ruled out of two Australia ODIs with a concussion in England. However, the coach did not seem to worry.&nbsp;

"Steve Smith is a bit more clear-cut, I think. He needs a little bit of time, it was a short turnaround between game one and two where the concussion happened, so I'd imagine there were some lingering side effects.&nbsp;

"They'll be erring on the side of caution, so hopefully (they will) see him out there again on Wednesday (for the third ODI against England in Manchester)."

The head coach of Rajasthan Royals, Andrew McDonald, has said that they are "not sure" about the availability of Ben Stokes in the IPL 2020 as he is with his ailing father in New Zealand.

The head coach of Rajasthan Royals, Andrew McDonald, has said that they are "not sure" about the availability of Ben Stokes in the IPL 2020 as he is with his ailing father in New Zealand. Also read: Paceman Ali Khan becomes first American to join IPL; will play for KKR England's star all-rounder has been going through a tough phase in his life, he even pulled out of three-match series against Pakistan in August before the second Test to be with his father, diagnosed with brain cancer. "First and foremost, thoughts with the Stokes family. It's a difficult scenario, so we're giving him as much time as he needs, and connecting with him as best we can," McDonald was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. Also read: ECB planning to cut 62 jobs due to financial ramifications of COVID-19 "So yeah, we're not sure where Stokesy's at right now, but once it has played out, then we can make our decisions from there. But I don't want to second-guess what will happen with him just yet." On December 23, 2019, Stokes' father Ged, who is a former New Zealand rugby league international, was admitted to hospital in Johannesburg due to serious illness. Also read: IPL 2020: CSK batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad continues to be COVID-19 positive, remains in quarantine McDonald was also asked Rajasthan Royals' captain Steve Smith, who was ruled out of two Australia ODIs with a concussion in England. However, the coach did not seem to worry. "Steve Smith is a bit more clear-cut, I think. He needs a little bit of time, it was a short turnaround between game one and two where the concussion happened, so I'd imagine there were some lingering side effects. "They'll be erring on the side of caution, so hopefully (they will) see him out there again on Wednesday (for the third ODI against England in Manchester)."

IPL 2020: Rajasthan Royals' star all-rounder Ben Stokes' availability still in doubt

Cricket fans in New Zealand were heartbroken on Monday after their team came excruciatingly close to a maiden cricket World Cup victory, only to lose to England in an exceptionally tight tie-breaker. It was especially tricky for the parents of England cricketer and man of the match Ben Stokes, who watched the game from their home in Christchurch. Although both were thrilled for their son's success, Deb Stokes suggested to TVNZ that the two teams should share the World Cup Trophy, while Ged Stokes joked that he was the "most hated father in New Zealand".

'Most hated father in New Zealand': Ben Stokes' parents take in England's World Cup success

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Ben Stokes' father, Ged, dies after brain cancer battle

IPL 2020: Rajasthan Royals' star all-rounder Ben Stokes' availability still in doubt

'Most hated father in New Zealand': Ben Stokes' parents take in England's World Cup success