With the Champions Trophy 2017 less than 48 hours to go, England team will take on Bangladesh in the first match at Kennington Oval, London on 1st June. During the One- day international series against South Africa, their star all-rounder Ben Stokes bowled just 2 overs during the first ODI at Leeds.
In the second match, Ben Stokes played a brilliant knock of 101 in 79 balls with 11 fours and 3 sixes to help the hosts 330 for 6 in their 50 overs. In that match too, Ben Stokes was injured bowling just 3 overs.
Mark Wood bowled a great last over defending 7 runs in the final over to help hosts win the match by 2 runs. In the final match Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes was rested for the dead rubber at Lords. South Africa won that match by 7 wickets.
The England Cricket team would be hoping that Ben Stokes will remain for the Champions Trophy 2017. He has gone for a scan and medical staff will ponder over the results of scan.
England has been playing aggressive cricket in the past 2 years after their group stage exit in the 2015 World Cup. They have been called as the favourites to win this year’s Champions Trophy 2017.
Ben Stokes had a great debut IPL 10 for Rising Pune Supergiant scoring 316 runs in 12 matches. Rising Pune Supergiant missed the knockout rounds as Steve Smith led side reached the finals of the tournament losing to Mumbai Indians by just 1 run.
Speaking on his injury, Stokes recently said,“ I’ve had it for two or three years now, on and off. It’s all about managing it. It is just in my delivery stride when I’m bowling. That’s the only time I feel it — a sensation running up the side of my knee. Batting and running around the field, everything like that is fine. We are managing it as well as we can between the doctors, physios and myself.”
Moeen Ali with a groin strain and Chris Woakes with a thigh injury did not play today’s match as a caution. England have been clubbed with Bangladesh, Australia and New Zealand. They have reached the finals of CT history twice.
If England are to win the tournament, Ben Stokes needs to be fully fit which will make the hosts stronger and can defeat any team on its day.
Meanwhile, reacting to these injuries skipper Eoin Morgan said,“We want to win every game and if we can do that with all of our players fully fit, then we’ll put out our strongest team every time.”
