Ben Stokes’ latest injury concern has raised questions about whether he should take on a professional role, but Sky Sports’ Ian Ward believes it will wipe him out as a cricketer.
England’s 33-year-old captain injured his left hip while bowling on the third day of the final test against New Zealand and left the field.
Stokes will now undergo “further assessment” on whether he will return to bat in England’s second innings in Hamilton, with the tourists 18-2 at stumps, needing a mammoth 640 to beat.
“There are two problems with that (Stokes being a specialist). One is that England need him to balance the side and the second, bigger problem is that Stokes wants to play his role as a complete player,” Ward said. : told Sky Sports News.
“That’s what makes these versatile players so great, they want to be involved in every aspect of the game.
“Stokes is batting, bowling, fielding and captaining. If you look at Ian Botham, he would bat as a batsman or a bowler, but if he could only do one, it would be removed from his overall aura, and I think that’s the same.” e in the case of Stokes.
England captain Stokes made 27 in the first innings of the third and final Test in Hamilton
“There’s no question about Stokes’ ability as a batsman or his ability to play at number three, but it takes a lot away from ‘Ben Stokes the cricketer’ so I don’t think that enters his mind.
“Again, we don’t know the extent of the injury, but I know he’ll put his heart and soul into getting fully fit because he’ll want to play that role as a true all-rounder.”
Stokes was sidelined for several weeks earlier this year with a severe tear in his left hamstring, missing four Tests after sustaining the injury in The Hundred.
He bowled 66.3 overs in the away series against the Black Caps, his most in a single series as a captain.
“It’s a big concern. It looks like England are going to lose quite heavily in this test match, we don’t know the extent of the injury,” added Ward.
Stokes celebrates the wicket of New Zealander Will O’Rourke in Hamilton
“When Stokes did that in the Hundred in August, he had to be helped off the field. On that occasion, he was able to walk away unassisted.
“You could see Brendon McCullum (England manager) in the background looking a bit worried, so it ended what was a terrible day for England.
“It was a great day for New Zealand, I think we saw a bit more of what they are capable of, they were very pale in the first game in Christchurch, missing all those catches which gave England a bit of momentum. .
“England gave them steam in the second game but it looks like they are going to get a taste of their own medicine in the last game in Hamilton.
“Stokes will put in the hard yards to get fit, he’s a very resilient lad and will want to continue his qualification as a genuine all-rounder and he has time as the next test match (against Zimbabwe in 2025) is five months away.”
Crowley’s haunting tour continues
Zac Crowley was dismissed for just 21 in England’s first innings on the second day of the third Test against New Zealand, making just five for the second time.
England opener Zach Crowley (5) was dismissed for the sixth time by Matt Henry (1-14) in the series at the end of the third day.
In the second over of England’s final innings, Crowley was bowled to his advantage, as was Henry, but he was dismissed in the fifth over on a review and stormed off the field.
“The only downside to Crawley is it’s not a five-match Test series,” Ward said.
“What Crowley tried to do to counter Henry didn’t work. When a bowler gets your number in a Test, it’s almost one of the hardest things to do in the sport.
“He’ll have the support of his teammates and management in the dressing room, but deep down he’ll know he’s not contributing to the side and it can be very, very lonely.
“She’ll be desperate to get on the plane and get home and leave Henry. It’s a very difficult tour and mentally it’s incredibly difficult to deal with.”
England test tour of New Zealand
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