On Day 3 of the England-Ireland Test at Lord’s, which also happened to be the game’s last day as England won by 10 wickets, Ben Stokes experienced an injury scare while the England captain stumbled after taking the catch of Curtis Campher’s catch at short fine leg, but he stayed in the game.
On Day 3 of the England-Ireland Test at Lord’s, which also happened to be the game’s last day as England won by 10 wickets, Ben Stokes experienced an injury scare.
The England captain stumbled after taking the catch of Curtis Campher’s catch at short fine leg, but he stayed in the game. Later, he said there was nothing to be concerned about and he was pleased with his fitness having bowled the morning before the third day’s play.
“Actually I didn’t pick it [the ball] up and I landed quite awkwardly on it [the left knee]. My weight went on the inside of the knee as I hyper-extended but I bowled this morning, the first time I have bowled since being back from India, so it’s been about 4 weeks actually and I got through that and I was really happy with where I was, so nothing to worry about,”
Stokes said at the post-match presentation on Saturday (June 3).
“I was really happy with how I bowled [before the start of the day]. I bowled for about 20 minutes and I got through that well. Obviously I have got time to build up before I push back into flat out, but I just landed quite awkwardly when I took that catch,”
Stokes said.
“I didn’t quite see it so had to adjust myself and landed on my left leg and it twisted in a really strange way. It was fine; I just don’t know what happened. It was one of those things – but I am 32 tomorrow so that probably explains it.”
Although England won the one-off Test easily, they were forced to bat again as Ireland put on a valiant showing with the bat in the second innings. Stokes praised the visiting team for their performance while he said the nature of the pitch, which became flatter as the game went on, showed England what to expect and what they need to do during the Ashes.
“(I) thought Ireland came out and showed grit and determination. Gives us a little insight into what we might have to do against Australia. It got flatter as it went on. Trying to take the game on in our way allowed us to potentially bowl them out without batting again. Ireland had to get a really good score to put us under pressure. Good test and credit to Ireland today,”
said Stokes.
Speaking about Josh Tongue, who bagged a five-wicket haul on debut, Stokes said:
“I told him the role that I saw him playing in this team as our third seamer, and used him in a way to get different types of spells out of one bowler. In his first spell, he came on and bowled well pitching the ball up. Then we looked to use his pace to use him as the aggressor when we needed to and the wicket got a bit flat.”For him to show he’s more than one type of bowler does us the world of good as a team going forward, knowing we’ve found someone else who can fulfill the role of the guys with the extra pace,”
said Stokes.
“Bowling the long spell yesterday and two long spells today, I wasn’t quite sure of how to manage him so early on. But I was very, very impressed with the way he just said yes to the plans I wanted him to operate under.”