Ben Stokes set to be able to bowl in the first Test against New Zealand

England’s all-rounder Ben Stokes had a fitness test in the indoor nets as he was suffering a stiff back since the end of the one-day international series which England won. Heavy showers in Auckland forced the test to be conducted indoors.

However, the results of the tests have brought good news for the English all-rounder as he is being deemed to be fit for the first Test to be played from 22^nd March at Eden Park in Auckland. England have been trying hard to bring back Ben Stokes to their Test side as the star all-rounder missed the Ashes due to a bar brawl in Bristol.

Stokes made his international comeback in the ODI series New Zealand and played a huge role in England’s series win over the Kiwi’s.

Stokes was instrumental both with the bat as well as the ball. Stokes’s return to the Test side was surely on the cards despite the back injury. Stokes would have played as a specialist batsman who would have meant that James Vince misses out from the playing XI.

England have majorly retained the same squad which lost the Ashes, and the management is hoping for a revival with Stokes’s return.

An ECB spokesperson said:

“His plan is to bowl tomorrow and on Wednesday outdoors. If he comes through, which he is expected to, he will bowl in the Auckland Test.” 

England off-spinner Moeen Ali was also confident that Stokes would bring depth to the English side. He said:

“It’s just having him in the side. knowing we’ve got a much stronger side when he’s playing, it gives everyone else a good lift, and obviously him being at slip for me, he’s very good in that position.”

“I know he’s ready to go, and ready to perform, and give back to the team, which I’m sure he wants to do for what happened earlier [missing the Ashes].”

Here’s the news feed:

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