31 May 2023 , 12:12
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Ben Stokes is ready to bat and bowl like it is 2019 after giving himself the ‘best chance’ where his knee and fitness are concerned.
The England Test skipper’s verdict on his physical health will be music to fans’ ears after watching him hobble and stumble through his last match against New Zealand in Wellington.
Worries that a spell at the IPL with the Chennai Super Kings might harm his Ashes chances with an increased workload never materialised as he spent most of the tournament on the sidelines with a toe injury and then unable to break into the successful eleven. It meant he was able to focus on rest and rehabilitation for his body and has arrived at Lord’s to face Ireland in the best possible shape.
“The knee is obviously in a much better place than it was in Wellington,” said Stokes. “I've been in India for the IPL over the last nine to 10 weeks and what I have done is get myself into a position where I can have no regrets or say I have not given myself the best opportunity to play a full role with the ball this summer.
“I have worked incredibly hard with the medical team in Chennai, who were liasing with the ECB guys and got myself into a place where I feel like I am back in the 2019, 2020 space in terms of my own body and fitness. I have definitely given myself the best chance, but the mind and body are different things.
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Ben Stokes insists he is in great physical shape for the summer (Getty Images)“It is about managing it and the great thing about sport and being out in the arena is it gives you adrenaline. So it gives you stuff you’re able to do in a game that you probably would not be able to do in training. I might turn up every day and bowl like I have before this little niggle turned up.”
Stokes has already had a cortisone injection to help him through the summer and if need be he will have another one further down the road if and when the Ashes demands more of him.
The likelihood and hope is that Stokes won’t be required to turn his arm over against Ireland who will have plenty to cope with from Stuart Broad, Matthew Potts and debutant Josh Tongue.
Josh Tongue has more pace than most of the England bowlers available (Getty Images)Stokes admitted he was keen to see Tongue in action this week since he will bring more pace than any other England bowler bar Mark Wood.
And it is clear that the hope is he will thrive and make himself a genuine Ashes option if Wood is unable to play.
“Tonguey has been someone who has been spoken about ever since he first came on the scene and played for Worcestershire,” Stokes added. “He is someone who possesses a bit more pace than most of the guys who have been spoken about as the next in line.
“Having someone who is able to bowl with that extra pace so he can come on and change the way the game is going and have that x-factor, is always great to have in your side.
“We saw this as a chance to give him an opportunity to show what he could do and see what his character was like and how he can influence a game in the role he would play if he played more games for us this summer.”