![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/ben-stokes-set-to-miss-cricket-world-cup-opener-against-new-zealand-after-injury-setback/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/0_England-v-New-Zealand-4th-Metro-Bank-ODI.jpg&description=Ben Stokes is an injury doubt for the clash with New Zealand - and Harry Brook is in line for an ODI World Cup debut in the middle order just hours after being named English cricket's player of the year Ben Stokes could miss England's opening match of the World Cup with a hip injury after Jos Buttler admitted he wouldn't be taking undue risks at the start of the tournament. Stokes did not feature in the only warm-up match England played in Guwahati against Bangladesh as he iced the area at the top of his left hip, confident that the niggle would clear up over the following 24 hours. But on arrival in Ahmedabad, the injury did not settle down as hoped and Stokes has since been receiving treatment from the physios to try and ease the discomfort. Stokes was set to play against New Zealand in the opener as England's number four batter but that place could now be filled by Harry Brook who was a late addition to the squad in place of Jason Roy. Skipper Buttler said he wouldn't make a call on Stokes until after training has been completed in the evening at the Narendra Modi Stadium, but he made it clear that it wasn't the time to gamble on the fitness of such an important player in the squad. 'He's got a slight niggle with his hip," said Buttler. "But fingers crossed there'll be some good news for us.. Just to clarify he's got a slight niggle. He's working hard with the physio and we'll know more when the guys arrive for training. "I think we'll make the right call here, and if he's not fit to play he's not fit to play. We'll make that decision, but now is not the time to take big risks on someone at the start of the tournament. At the end you would take more of a risk when it comes to injuries. It is going to be a long tournament so we'll see how the guys pull up post training and then we can make our decisions." If Brook is given the nod to play in place of Stokes his captain has every confidence the 24-year-old can make an impact and continue the stellar form that saw h){kind=link}
Ben Stokes is an injury doubt for the clash with New Zealand – and Harry Brook is in line for an ODI World Cup debut in the middle order just hours after being named English cricket’s player of the year
Ben Stokes could miss England’s opening match of the World Cup with a hip injury after Jos Buttler admitted he wouldn’t be taking undue risks at the start of the tournament.
Stokes did not feature in the only warm-up match England played in Guwahati against Bangladesh as he iced the area at the top of his left hip, confident that the niggle would clear up over the following 24 hours.
But on arrival in Ahmedabad, the injury did not settle down as hoped and Stokes has since been receiving treatment from the physios to try and ease the discomfort. Stokes was set to play against New Zealand in the opener as England’s number four batter but that place could now be filled by Harry Brook who was a late addition to the squad in place of Jason Roy.
Skipper Buttler said he wouldn’t make a call on Stokes until after training has been completed in the evening at the Narendra Modi Stadium, but he made it clear that it wasn’t the time to gamble on the fitness of such an important player in the squad.