England had a pretty full turnout on Monday for their final training before their must-win match against New Zealand – all practice sessions are optional under the new regime of Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott – but it was what one of the players did not do that was most noteworthy. Ben Stokes did not bat or bowl, but simply went through several laps of the boundary at the Allan Border Field in the company of one of the medical staff.
Stokes has long managed a problem with his knee that is a consequence of his all-out efforts with the ball, but England later insisted that there was nothing wrong with the all-rounder, and that he was fully fit for what will be his first
© Times Newspapers Limited 2022.
Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF.