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"I Know How Hard My..." Ben Stokes Reveals Why He Won’t Rush His Return Vs Zimbabwe

Jatin

Ben Stokes is set to make a comeback vs Zimbabwe [Source: @88Brooky/x.com]Ben Stokes is set to make a comeback vs Zimbabwe [Source: @88Brooky/x.com]

Ben Stokes is not the type to dip his toes in the water. If he is coming back, he is diving headfirst into the deep end and that is exactly what the England Test skipper plans to do this summer but with a bit of caution in the early overs.

Ben Stokes Opens Up On His Comeback Plan

After six months on the sidelines, the 33-year-old talisman is ready to don the whites again as England take on Zimbabwe in a one-off Test at Trent Bridge starting Thursday. It’s the first step in a bigger plan: to be back firing on all cylinders when India come calling in June and then for that big-ticket Ashes down under in November.

Ben Stokes has always been England’s go-to man when the going gets tough. Bat, ball, or break in play, he has got his hand in everything. But returning from a hamstring surgery is no joke, and the England captain knows he can’t sprint before he walks.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the game, the 33-year-old said,

“I’ve been training a lot over the last two months and got myself back up as close as I possibly can to match intensity.”

But he also admitted that no matter how hard you train, nothing quite compares to the heat of a real contest.

"We have so much technology where we can look at those numbers and the difference, as far as I can push myself in training to game, there is a bit of a gap.”

He’s ready to bowl “some overs” this week, but can’t expect marathon spells just yet.

“Getting out in the battle of playing is something I have to be mindful of, but I’ve done all the work I need to get out there and bowl some overs,” he added.

Long-Term Fitness Priority For Stokes

Stokes has his sights set on bigger fish, namely, the five-Test home series against India starting June 20 and the Ashes in Australia from November 21.

He knows the demands of his role and he is not cutting corners.

“I said I not only wanted to be strong from this hamstring and everything that supports that but fit and strong everywhere else as I am not getting any younger.”

The Englishman also acknowledged the toll his body has to take because of his role in the team.

“I know how hard my role is,” he said. “The role I want to play is incredibly tough on the body, so I wanted to make sure when I came back I was in a physical place where I didn’t have any worries or doubts physically.”

After easing into his return against Zimbabwe, Stokes will be hoping to hit full tilt during the high-voltage India series where England will need him firing with both bat and ball. That will be followed by the ultimate test: an away Ashes down under, starting November 21.