Ben Stokes dismisses fitness worries ahead of Ashes series

England Test captain Ben Stokes dismissed fitness worries ahead of the Ashes against Australia, insisting his long-standing knee injury was “nothing to worry about.”
The 31-year-old looked in discomfort as he collected a catch on day three of the Lord’s Test against Ireland, a game England won by 10 wickets with more than a day to spare for their 11th triumph in 13 games. The English skipper was in visible discomfort after taking the catch of Curtis Campher at short fine leg, though he hobbled around for the rest of the innings while staying on the ground. Stokes has been dealing with knee issues, most recently during the Indian Premier League (IPL). Stokes did not bowl in the match, but he did bowl some deliveries in the warm-up before Saturday’s play, which might be a lift for England with the first Test against Australia less than two weeks away.
Stokes was eager to dismiss any concerns over the injury scare in the Ireland game.
“I landed quite awkwardly. My weight went on the inside of my knee; I hyper-extended it. It was one of those things, but I am 32 today, so that probably explains it. I bowled this morning, the first time I have bowled since being back from the IPL, and I was really happy with the way it went. Nothing to worry about,” Skysports quoted Stokes as saying. Stokes’ effect with the ball was restricted during the drawn Test series in New Zealand in February, with the skipper bowling just nine overs in two games.
Coming into the one-off Test match against Ireland, pacer Josh Tongue took a five-wicket haul on his Test debut as the hosts England clinched an easy win against a spirited Ireland side on Day 3 of the one-off Test match at Lord’s on Saturday.