Steve Harmison has issued a stark warning over Ben Stokes ' future after the England captain bowled a long spell of bouncers during the first Test against South Africa at Lord's.
Stokes found success with this tactic, notably dismissing opener Sarel Erwee for 73 with an excellent bouncer and also getting Keshav Maharaj caught at midwicket for 41 off a well-directed short ball.
However, he was also seen repeatedly clutching his knee while bowling, something which concerns Harmison given Stokes has a history of injury problems and also struggled with a knee issue during the recent tour of the West Indies back in March.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Harmison voiced his concerns about England's tactic of resorting to short pitched bowling against the tail and Stokes using himself as an enforcer with the old ball.
The former England quick also compared Stokes to fellow all-rounder Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff, who was forced into retirement at the age of just 33 due to injury problems, warning that Stokes will "break".
"When we get teams six down, it seems that this group have got a game plan of 'we're going to bowl bouncers, we're going to be aggressive, we're going to be in their face and we're going to get at the bowlers who've got a bat in their hand'," Harmison said.
"Reality check, we haven't got bowlers who can do that. Broad and Anderson can't bowl bouncers because of who they are and what they are, it's not in their nature.
"Potts is not a bouncer bowler and we are going to break Ben Stokes. My best friend Andrew Flintoff had to retire at 33 for what Ben Stokes is doing now with his bowling, and [doing it] on one leg.
"We can't afford to lose Ben Stokes, we just can't. He's a captain I think we've all warmed to and [he] will produce good wins for England as he has done so far this summer. But he won't if he isn't playing anymore."
