The Ashes: England captain Ben Stokes performs down health issues forward of Australia sequence | Cricket Information

England captain Ben Stokes performed down issues over his health forward of The Ashes, saying his longstanding knee damage was “nothing to fret about”.

The 31-year-old grimaced as he took a catch on day three of the Lord’s Check in opposition to Eire, a sport England received by 10 wickets with over a day to spare for his or her eleventh victory in 13 video games.

Stokes didn’t bowl within the match however despatched down some deliveries within the warm-up earlier than Saturday’s play in a possible increase for England lower than two weeks out from the primary Check in opposition to Australia.

On wincing after catching Eire’s Curtis Campher, Stokes stated: “I landed fairly awkwardly. My weight went on the within of my knee, I hyper-extended it. It was a kind of issues, however I’m 32 tomorrow in order that in all probability explains it.

“I bowled this morning, the primary time I’ve bowled since being again from [the IPL] and I used to be actually pleased with the way in which it was. Nothing to fret about.”

Stokes’ knee damage restricted his affect with the ball in the course of the drawn Check sequence in New Zealand in February, with the skipper bowling simply 9 overs in two video games.

The all-rounder has solely delivered one over since – within the IPL for Chennai Tremendous Kings in early April – however stated earlier than the Eire Check that tough work on his health out in India had given him “one of the best alternative” to play a full half with the ball within the Ashes.

Talking on day three of the Eire Check, Sky Sports activities’ Simon Doull stated: “Stokes goes to be the problem: will he be capable to bowl?

“If he cannot bowl, and if that bowling assault is put beneath stress – the Australian left-handers going laborious at spinner Jack Leach – then the place do England flip?”

Nasser Hussain added: “You could want to consider one other all-rounder – I am throwing the title on the market of Sam Curran – however England suppose no, Stokes goes to play.”

We noticed him bowl within the morning [on Saturday] and it appeared sore, stiff and uncomfortable, and [wincing after taking a catch] is a priority.

England handed a debut to Worcestershire seamer Josh Tongue at Lord’s, an event the 25-year-old marked with a second-innings five-for.

Stokes: Tongue confirmed his versatility

Tongue – who had contemplated retirement whereas amid a 15-month spell on the sidelines with a shoulder drawback between 2021 and 2022 – was typically utilized in an enforcer function, testing Eire’s batters with short-pitched deliveries.

Talking concerning the paceman, who has been named within the England squad for the primary two Ashes Exams, Stokes stated: “He got here in and carried out very well. He clearly performed that third seamer function and we used him with totally different plans at totally different occasions.

“He bowled in longer spells and confirmed how versatile he could be, which is what we’re searching for in a 3rd seamer. He can bowl 90mph full and brief.

“We hold it easy [for new players]. I simply advised him to run in and fear about what he was doing, not the remainder of the stuff.

“He responded nicely to that. It was a particular feeling for a child to get a five-for on debut, significantly at Lord’s.”

England will start their bid to regain the Ashes in Birmingham on June 16, with Stokes including: “I feel [we are ready]. There may be not way more we are able to do.

“The brand new method is you get as prepared as you probably can and no matter you do, you simply get your self in the precise state of mind for the video games.

“This Eire Check was a terrific alternative to get again collectively and we might be doing that once more earlier than The Ashes to have some enjoyable earlier than the sequence begins.”

Watch The Ashes dwell on Sky Sports activities Cricket from June 16.