'I landed quite awkwardly and hyper-extended it': England captain Ben Stokes offers major fitness update ahead of Ashes 2023

England Test captain Ben Stokes seemed to have suffered a slight injury on Day 3 of the one-off Test against Ireland on June 3 (Saturday).

SportsTak

• Sun • 04 Jun 2023

England Test captain Ben Stokes seemed to have suffered a slight injury on Day 3 of the one-off Test against Ireland on June 3 (Saturday). Stokes looked in pain after he completed Curtis Campher's catch, leaving the Three Lions' fans anxious with England scheduled to play a five-match Ashes series against Australia later in the month After the match, the England skipper offered an update on his injury and said that there is 'nothing to worry about'.

"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 (on Sunday) so that probably explains it," Stokes said after England won the one-off Test against Ireland on June 3 (Saturday).

"I bowled this morning, the first time I have bowled since being back from (the Indian Premier League) and I was really happy with the way it was. Nothing to worry about," he added.

Meanwhile, Stokes became the first captain in Test cricket history to win a Test without batting, bowling or keeping wickets. In a Test that ended within three days with England winning by 10 wickets, Stokes may have not bowled as Ireland did not pose a tough challenge and he did not want to take a risk ahead of his first Ashes series as captain.

In the first innings, it was Stuart Broad who took a fifer whereas Matthew Potts and Jack Leach took two and three wickets respectively. When England came out to bat, opener Ben Duckett's 182 and Ollie Pope's 205 helped England post 524/4. With enough first innings lead, Stokes decided to declare the innings.

In Ireland's second innings, Ireland showed some fightback but debutant Josh Tongue picked up a fifer. Despite the 163-run partnership for the seventh wicket, Ireland could post 362. While Stokes could have bowled himself, he gave former captain and off-spinner Joe Root a chance to roll his arm. Root delivered with the wicket of Curtis Campher as well.