England captain Ben Stokes has reassured fans he is now bowling pain free after struggling with a chronic left knee injury.
Stokes has been managing the issue for around a year, but visibly struggled with the injury on England's Test tour of New Zealand in February. He only bowled nine overs across the two Tests and was particularly affected by it while both batting and bowling in the second Test in Wellington.
He admitted after the game the injury was "holding me back" and there have been concerns he could break down during this summer's Ashes, with England set to play five Tests against Australia in a tight 46-day window.
However, Stokes recently had cortisone injections in his knee and bowled a solitary over in the Chennai Super Kings' second IPL game against the Lucknow Super Giants. Although he went for 18 runs, with West Indies star Kyle Mayers hitting two fours and a six, Stokes says he bowled "without any pain in my knee".
It is an admission which will delight England fans who were extremely concerned by the sight of Stokes limping in Wellington, with the all-rounder vowing that his "main priority" is ensuring he is fit enough to bowl in the Ashes.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Stokes opened up about his injury struggles, stating: "I said at the end of [the Test in] Wellington it's been a very frustrating year, that's how long it's been bowling with this knee problem.
"Not being able to fulfil my role properly as fourth seamer has been frustrating and I've worked so hard over the last five weeks to get to where I am now. Being able to bowl pain free, touch wood, has been good.
"Even last night I went for 18 runs, but I managed to bowl an over without any pain in my knee. That's obviously down to a lot of hard work I've done.
"I've had a bit of help with some cortisone injections, but everything's going nicely. I'll just take it step by step and not look to rush myself too much because the main priority is making sure I can fulfil my role as fourth seamer in the Ashes."
