As "nothing really showed up" problematic in the MRI scans he went through, England all-rounder Ben Stokes says he is ready to bowl during the four-Test series in South Africa starting Boxing Day in Centurion.
Stokes reported an issue with his knee on Day 1 of the recent Test against New Zealand in Hamilton and didn't come back to deliver again until the next day when after overnight rest he bowled a further 25 overs in the game.
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"It's alright," Stokes told TalkSport. "I got some scans when we got back [to] England and there's nothing really showing up on the MRI scans, which is good news."
"I just need to toughen up I guess but it's alright and it's just treatment now. I will be fine to bowl [in South Africa]."
Stokes has been managing his left knee ever since it had to go through a surgery in 2016. But for such a passionate cricketer, skipper Joe Root says, it is really hard to take the ball out of his hands despite the niggle.
"With Ben, you're always trying to make sure he's being honest with you," Root said. "He'll continue to keep bowling unless you pull him off. You don't want him to hurt himself and he's managing that very well, he's being a lot smarter with it and making sure that if he is sore he's not going to rule himself out of any games."
Stokes also requested fans to keep their expectations in check with young pacer Jofra Archer who caught everyone's attention during the summer back home but experienced struggles in the Kiwiland on his first tour.
"When you achieve what he achieved in such a short space of time, you're expected to do it day in, day out, but that's just impossible."
"He's 24 years old: he doesn't have that much experience, he's still learning how to bowl properly, he's still learning how to bowl in Test cricket."
"I saw he got a bit of stick in New Zealand but he's never bowled with a Kookaburra ball before, so he's still learning and understanding how to bowl in different conditions," Stokes added.
"So you've got to give him a bit of leeway, understand that he's still learning the game and still maturing as a player, and not expect him to go out and take 4 for 50 every innings."
(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)
