Ben Stokes refrains from making future plans as he awaits result of knee scans

Veteran England all-rounder Ben Stokes has refrained from making any future plans or commitments as he awaits the result of his knee scans. For the unversed, the southpaw struggled with knee issues during England’s tour of West Indies last month. He was expected to participate in the 2022 County Championship which begins on April 7. However, Stokes has made it clear that he won’t take any decision before understanding the status of his knee issues.

Notably, Stokes, who’s one of the most-celebrated all-rounders going around, was largely out of action in 2021. While his stubborn finger injury made him miss several series and tournaments, he also took a break from cricket, citing mental health reasons. He even gave the T20 World Cup 2021 a miss, wherein the Three Lions finished as the semi-finalists.

No training until I get these scans: Ben Stokes

The 2021-22 Ashes marked Stokes’ return to professional cricket and he did considerably well amid England’s 0-4 thrashing Down Under. Joe Root’s men also suffered a 0-1 defeat in the West Indies Test series but Stokes made a mark again with a remarkable century in Barbados. With the all-rounder having a history of injuries, he’s not willing to make any future plans before receiving the result of his knee scans.

“(With) my knee problems out in the Caribbean, I am getting all the scans … so I literally can’t make any plans until we see what is going on there,” Stokes said on the Round the Wicket podcast on Tuesday (April 5). “At the moment, no training until I get these scans, then we find out what is going on, then hopefully can make a plan from there on,” he added.

Meanwhile, England have suffered a horrendous time in the longest format lately, winning just one of their last 17 Tests. Stokes reckons the side has been progressing but “playing the situation over playing the man” has cost them many games. “(We need to) break it down a lot simpler and just go ‘right, it’s me against you’ rather than me against the whole situation of this whole game,” he added.