Stokes hopes to be dominant all-round force again after return from surgery
Ben Stokes the England captain
Photo:
PHOTOSPORT
England test captain Ben Stokes hopes he can become a dominant force with both bat and ball again when the all-rounder returns from hamstring surgery, with a busy summer ahead that includes high-profile series against India and Australia.
The 33-year-old has been out of action since tearing his left hamstring in December and underwent surgery in January to get rid of an issue that has plagued him in recent years.
The talismanic, New Zealand-born all-rounder, who has occasionally been forced to play as a specialist batter because of the injury, said he had gone through one of the longest rehab periods of his career.
"I've worked incredibly hard on all aspects of everything, from my cricket to fitness, and know I'm going to be in a position when I am back on the field to potentially be in physically the best possible shape I have been in," he told Sky Sports.
Stokes will return to the England side for a one-off test against Zimbabwe from May 22 at Trent Bridge before they host India for five tests followed by the Ashes series in Australia.
The Durham player was pleased with how his training had gone but was aware that playing a real match will be more demanding.
"As excited as I am to get back on the field I do know it's going to be different to my training," he said.
"But in terms of my role as a player, that full seamer, batting at six, trying to dominate every situation I find myself whether I've got a bat or ball in my hand is what I want to get back doing out on the field, on the biggest stage.
"I know I've done it before, it's something I've very confident in myself I can do."
- Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Cricket: Former Black Cap captain Daniel Vettori added to ICC Hall of Fame
Photo: PHOTOSPORT Former Black Cap Daniel Vettori is among seven new inductees added to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame. ICC chair Jay Shah welcomed the new members at a gala event at Abbey Road Studios in London. Vettori played 442 matches for New Zealand - 113 tests, 296 ODIs and 34 T20Is. Since his retirement in 2015, Vettori has coached with national teams like Australia and in several franchise leagues. The other inductees were Matthew Hayden, Hashim Amla, MS Dhoni, Graeme Smith, Sana Mir and Sarah Taylor. 113 tests - 4531 runs at an average of 30, 362 wickets 295 ODIs - 2253 runs at 17.33, 305 wickets 34 T20Is - 205 runs at 12.81, 38 wickets An outstanding left-arm spin bowler who was a more than handy middle to lower-order batter. Vettori paved out an excellent career, one of just three players to score 4000 runs and take 300 wickets in test cricket. He was also an excellent captain for the Black Caps, taking over from Stephen Fleming and leading the side to the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2009. Now an assistant coach with the Australian team, Vettori was in London to receive his Hall of Fame induction in person. "Looking at the past inductees of the ICC Hall of Fame, one can see the outstanding talent and contribution they made to the growth and popularity of the game," Vettori said. "To gain recognition alongside them is simply overwhelming and I can't find words to describe the feeling." Veteran Black Cap Daniel Vettori's glasses have earned him the nickname 'Harry Potter'. Photo: AFP 103 tests - 8625 runs at an average of 50.73 161 ODIs - 6133 runs at 43.80 9 T20Is - 308 runs at 51.33 A powerful opening batter who intimidated the best fast bowlers in the world. With a whopping 30 test centuries and an average greater than 50, Hayden's outstanding numbers in the longest format speak for themselves. The left-hander was just as adept in the 50-over game, smashing three centuries alone at the 2007 edition of the men's Cricket World Cup to finish the tournament as the leading run-scorer. It was the second of two World Cup titles that Hayden helped Australia win, and the burly opener has since turned into a highly respected commentator. 124 tests - 9282 runs at an average of 46.64 181 ODIs - 8113 runs 49.46 44 T20Is - 1277 runs 33.60 A calm and composed top-order batter. Amla's overall record was top class in test cricket and perhaps even more outstanding in the 50-over format as the underrated right-hander scored bulk runs against every opposition and in all conditions. With a superb cover drive and a trademark leg-side flick, Amla was a mode of consistency and a reliable member of a powerful South African side that scaled the heights to become the top-ranked test team during his long and distinguished career. Amla dominated bowling attacks for much of his 15-year international career, becoming the first South African to score a triple century when he hit an unbeaten 311 against England in 2012 when he was at the top of his game. A total of 55 international centuries shows exactly how good Amla was. 90 tests - 4876 runs at an average of 38.08, 294 dismissals 350 ODIs - 10,773 runs at 50.57, 444 dismissals 98 T20Is - 1617 runs at 37.60, 91 dismissals MS Dhoni produced many highlights throughout his lengthy international career. His most memorable came when he produced one of his trademark helicopter shots when hitting the winning runs for India at the 2011 Cricket World Cup, but there was so much more to the inspirational skipper. Dhoni was ahead of his time with the way he kept wickets in all formats, but perhaps excelled most against the white ball, well-renowned for his ability to time a run chase to perfection in the dying overs. The Indian great remains the only captain to win all three ICC white-ball tournaments, having led India to success at the inaugural ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2007, the 50-over World Cup in 2011 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. 117 tests - 9265 runs at an average of 48.25, 8 wickets 197 ODIs - 6989 runs at 37.98, 18 wickets 33 T20Is - 982 runs at 31.67 A superb opening batter and arguably an even better captain. Smith forged a great career as a tough and uncompromising top-order batter and was thrust into the captaincy role he relished at the young age of 22. He excelled in this position in what was a high-class South African side, and hit new heights as a batter while captaining the team. 120 ODIs - 1630 runs at an average of 17.91, 151 wickets 106 T20Is - 802 runs at 14.07, 89 wickets Sana Mir becomes the first Pakistan women to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, following a superb international career. With more than 200 international wickets against the white ball, Mir is renowned for her work on the field and off the field. She was well-known for her strong stance on body shaming, prioritising mental health and helping people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and fulfils a childhood dream by joining the ICC Hall of Fame. 10 tests - 300 runs at an average of 18.75, 20 dismissals 126 ODIs - 4056 runs at 38.26, 138 dismissals 90 T20Is - 2177 runs at 29.02, 74 dismissals One of the most talented female players in recent times, England's star keeper-batter Sarah Taylor joins the ICC Hall of Fame following a 14-year international career. While Taylor was renowned for her sensational glovework behind the stumps and her trademark leg-side stumpings, she was also an extremely capable top-order batter and her record in big games was further indication of this. Taylor played a major role in helping England win the double of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup and ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2009, and then stepped up once again at the backend of the 2017 50-over World Cup triumph on home soil by top-scoring for her side in the semi-final victory over South Africa, and then producing an equally important innings of 45 in the title decider with India. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Spin could be major factor in WTC final, says Australia's Smith
Australia's Nathan Lyon appeals for an LBW during the second Test match against Pakistan in Melbourne. Photo: photosport Australia batter Steve Smith expects spin to play a significant role in this week's World Test Championship final at Lord's as London basks in dry weather ahead of Wednesday's start. Australia defend their title against a South African side making a first appearance in the final on what could be dryer than usual pitch at Lord's and where the seam attacks are expected to dominate. "I think spin will play a big part, particularly as the game wears on," Smith told a media conference on Monday. "We've only been here a week, but I think it's been pretty dry start to the season over here. There hasn't been too much rain, which is rare for England. "It does look like quite a dry surface and I think the footmarks will definitely come into play as the game wears on." Smith, who is expected to bat at number four, has enjoyed success at Lord's with a double century in the Ashes a decade ago and another ton against England two years ago. "It takes a little bit of time getting used to the slope on the one end," he said. "You feel like you're falling over a little bit while at the other end you feel quite tall. "It takes a couple of deliveries just to get used to that from both ends. I think each time you play out here, you certainly get value for your shots, particularly hitting the ball down the hill. It races away, so it can be a nice wicket to bat on as we've seen over the years as well." Conditions, however, can change quickly in England. "If there's a bit of cloud about and the balls swing around, it can get tricky," Smith said. "Batting on this surface is about just summing it up and playing what's in front of you and being able to adapt accordingly." Australia have not had much practice in the game's first-class format over recent months. "All the batters feel like they're in a good place, so now just excited to go out and play. Lord's is a place we traditionally played pretty good cricket, so we're excited about the prospect of coming up against South Africa," Smith added. -Reuters
RNZ News
15 hours ago
- RNZ News
Rugby: Next six months will be critical - outgoing NZR boss Mark Robinson
NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson Photo: PHOTOSPORT The outgoing boss of New Zealand Rugby believes he is leaving the organisation in a better place. Chief executive Mark Robinson has resigned and will leave the organisation at the end of the year after six years in the role. The nine-Test All Black said the decision was driven by a desire to join his family, who are now based in Australia. Robinson said the next six months would be a critical time for the sport. "We have massive opportunities as it relates to the international calendar that we're very close to finalising. Then we have a fantastic opportunity again around the financial model of the game in New Zealand ...to find a way to be on a more sustainable footing going forward," Robinson said. The 51-year-old felt he was leaving the organisation in a better place because of the significant potential for growth. "The focus we now have on fans and the positioning we've done internationally ...our teams, our athletes, our brands are far more recognisable all around the world. Our sponsorship base has more than doubled. "We now invest close to $40 million a year into the community game ...we're seeing community rugby numbers bounce back to sort of pre-Covid levels." During his time, New Zealand Rugby had to deal with the drawn-out Silver Lake negotiations when the US private equity firm invested in the game here, which Robinson said was an important juncture for the sport. "When you look at what we've been able to invest in over the last few years ...and we are definitely seeing green shoots and signs that we can grow revenue ...we were a little bit ahead of our time in terms of looking at that opportunity. "Seeing all the things we've been able to invest in to bring the Silver Lake deal to fruition and be able to invest over $60 million in participants and fans and stakeholders." He said it was important for the organisation to reflect the community. "Our country is very different to what it was five years ago and I think our environments and our team and our people have made huge shifts there around how accessible and open and inclusive our environments are." All Blacks head coach Ian Foster (left) and NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson. Photo: PHOTOSPORT He said it was important to preserve the history of New Zealand Rugby, while not getting left behind. "Forcing ourselves to be different in the way we think about the future of the game and the way we connect with fans and participants is a constant challenge ...because the trends around sport, recreation and entertainment are constantly evolving." A very drawn-out public All Blacks head coaching saga occurred during his time. Scott Robertson was initially rumoured to be replacing Ian Foster but ultimately Foster was given a chance to continue to the 2023 World Cup, after Robertson was announced as his successor. Robinson said New Zealand Rugby put the success of the team at the front of all the decisions. "It meant pushing and making sure we had the right people there to have the absolute best chance of winning that tournament. And then we also had the team's best interests at heart as it relates to the medium to long term and made what changes were needed to set us up for success." Robinson said leading the organisation through Covid was the toughest part of his tenure. "I think I was three weeks into the role when Covid came along ...but what we've been able to do through the immediate aftermath of Covid in terms of growing revenue by over 60 percent on an annual basis. "We also at that time took stock of where the game was at and started talking I think for the first time around this game having to be far more fan centric ...and in the community game to really focus on our participants." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
