Ben Stokes has moved to ease concerns over his fitness ahead of the second Test against New Zealand as England return to Wellington Basin Reserves.
New Zealand recorded one of the tightest margins ever seen when the sides played here in February 2023, becoming only the second Test team in history to win by one run and the fourth to win after an over.
Stokes failed to play his role with the ball, visibly struggling with knee problems that would lead to major surgery last winter.
His return to full-blooded all-round duty hasn’t been without occasional upheaval, missing four of his side’s last seven games with a hamstring tear and suffering a hamstring injury on the final day of last week’s win in Christchurch.
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Sky Sports’ Michael Atherton reflects on England’s first Test win over New Zealand and says the hosts have a few issues to contend with.
He hurt his back midway through the fifth innings of the spell and immediately withdrew from the attack.After some light training to recover, he went through his paces during the team’s final practice session in the capital, bowling runs in the middle as assistant coaches Jeethan Patel and Paul Collingwood looked on.
Stokes moved to allay concerns about his form, suggesting that at 33 he had simply abandoned his lifelong habit of pushing himself to the limit and beyond.
“I used my common sense just once,” he said.
“If you look back at where we were playing, we were obviously way ahead of that game. If the game had been balanced, I’m sure I wouldn’t have just left midway through.
“It’s about understanding things as you get older. I understand my body a little more and can listen to it a little more than when I was in my twenties How am I doing this week?”
Stokes was part of an unforgettable near miss in Wellington last year
Stokes says he still appreciates some of last year’s unforgettable near miss in Wellington but insists victory is the only priority “in any way or shape” as England return to Bassin reserves to win the away series for the first time year
Stokes cut a remarkably magnanimous figure at the time, declaring himself “blessed” to try the instant classic in the moments when Neil Wagner dismissed last man James Anderson amid nerve-wracking drama.
And while he still looks back on that battle fondly, his focus is now on doing what it takes.
“It was an incredibly memorable Test match last time. Even though we lost, it was pretty special to be a part of it,” he recalled.
“To have one run separating two teams at the end of a hard fought game is something you can look back on and say it was great to be a part of that. It was hard to feel too disappointed about the emotions we were going through watching the game unfold
“But this week I’ll take any win, in any way shape or form.”
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Brydon Carrs has been hailed by Ben Stokes as England’s triple threat after his starring role in their win against New Zealand in Christchurch.
England head into their penultimate match of a torrid year boasting the top two players in the ICC World Rankings, with Harry Brook at 171 in Christchurch, leaving him just behind leader Joe Root.
Just 41 points separate them, the kind of margin that can be turned around quickly, and Stokes is sure that fact will not go unnoticed by the Yorkshire duo.
“I think those two are going to be in there for a long time to come,” he said.
“They don’t really talk about it between themselves but it will be in the back of their heads and Ruthie will want to maintain that she’s number one and Brookie is still number two.
“They’re two incredible players. There’s Joe, who’s played a hell of a lot of cricket, and at the other end you’ve got Harry Brook, who’s playing what’s going to be an incredible Test career.”
New Zealand match England by fielding an unchanged XI, resisting the urge to recall batsman Will Young or spinner Mitchell Santner.
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