Ben Stokes is a doubt for England’s World Cup opener against New Zealand tomorrow because of a minor hip problem.
Jos Buttler’s side begin their trophy defence in the tournament curtain-raiser in Ahmedabad in what is a repeat of the 2019 final.
Stokes, the man of the match in that Lord’s epic four years ago, is central to their hopes of becoming only the third country to win back-to-back World Cups, having reversed his short-lived ODI retirement ahead of the trip to India.
The 32-year-old has been dogged by a chronic left-knee problem over the last 12 months, one that means he will play as a specialist batter rather than all-rounder in this tournament. While the hip niggle revealed by Buttler in his pre-match press conference today is unrelated, England will take no chances on their talisman’s fitness ahead of a lengthy campaign that could end in a final back in Ahmedabad on November 19.
“He’s got a slight niggle with his hip, but fingers crossed that it’ll be good news for us,” Buttler said. “He’s working hard with the physios and we’ll know more when the guys arrive for training.
“We’ll make the right call. If he’s not fit to play, he’s not fit to play. If he is, we can make that decision.
“It’s not the time to take big risks on someone at the start of the tournament. Nearer the end, maybe you do take more of a risk with people’s injuries but it’s going to be a long tournament.”
Stokes showed he has lost none of his aptitude for 50-over cricket during his year out of the format when making 182 during the victory over New Zealand at the Oval last month, the highest ever ODI score by an Englishman.
Should England decide he is not fit, Harry Brook would appear in line to make his World Cup bow batting at No4.
Brook was not initially named as part of England’s provisional squad in late-August, but was drafted in in place of Jason Roy when the final 15-man squad was announced last month.
