'Nowhere Near Ready...,' Ben Stokes Opens Up On His Fitness Ahead Of 1st Test vs ENG
Ben Stokes underwent a knee surgery [X.com]
England's Test skipper Ben Stokes has been dealing with knee issues over the past year, which kept the star player out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after featuring in initial matches, but the all-rounder did manage to play for the Three Lions in The Ashes and World Cup 2023.
Stokes is making a return to the international arena after a knee surgery, and ahead of the first Test against India in Hyderabad, has opened up about his fitness, which will witness the captain only bat and not participate in bowling throughout the five-match tour.
As quoted by ESPNcricinfo, the 32-year-old admitted that while he has fitness, but bowling in competitive cricket yet is out of question, and might happen during the English summer.
"As I said before, bowling is such an unnatural thing for the body to go through that it's not going to be a case of right, I'm good now, straight back into bowling. Remember the last ball I bowled was actually in the Ashes at Lord's. So my body is nowhere near ready to even be thinking about competitive bowling at the moment.
"But if I get to a stage in this tour where we can start building myself back up to bowling, then hopefully by the summer, that's where I've earmarked as playing a full role as I want to be doing.”
In 97 Tests, Stokes has scored 6,117 runs and picked up 197 wickets showcasing his importance with the ball in the scheme of bowling things for England.
The first Test between India and England commences from tomorrow at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
 "Vishal Mehra")
