Ben Stokes Likely To Return In May Despite Concerns Over Knee Injury: Reports

Excessive bowling in the recently concluded Test series against West Indies has aggravated England all-rounder Ben Stokes‘ knee injury. He had to do the major chunk of the bowling due to the absence of James Anderson and Stuart Broad from the Test series.

By his own admission, Ben Stokes was drained out by the amount of bowling that he did in the series. However, despite his best efforts, England lost the Test series 1-0 as West Indies won the third and final Test in Grenada. Stokes bowled 99 overs in the Test series against the Windies.

“I think it was pretty obvious that I was struggling with my knee a bit out in the Caribbean. At the moment there is no training. So I will go and get the scans and then we can find out what’s going on, and then hopefully can make a plan from there,” Stokes had said on the Round the Wicket podcast.

With England scheduled to play a long season of Test cricket ahead, Ben Stokes’ availability and his fitness is a major concern for the ECB now. They host New Zealand and South Africa for three-Test series apiece and are rescheduled to play the postponed fifth Test against India as well.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have revealed that the all-rounder’s injury is not serious and, while they will continue to monitor his progress. The reports further added that Stokes will play for Durham in May as well.

Will Continue To Monitor Ben Stokes’ Progress: ECB

“Ben had a scan on his left knee which didn’t reveal anything new. We had planned for him to return to LV= Insurance County Championship cricket in early May and, while he is feeling tender in the knee, that plan remains the same following the scan.

“We’ll continue to manage him in conjunction with Durham,” read ECB’s statement.

Stokes also skipped the IPL 2022 to work on his fitness and be available for international commitments as well.

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