I want to play the 5th Ashes Test despite injury: Ben Stokes

English all-rounder Ben Stokes has expressed his desire to play the last Ashes Test despite the injury he sustained while bowling in the Sydney Test. Stokes made a half-century in each of the innings of the fourth Test and helped England draw the match. He along with Jonny Bairstow and Zak Crawley played a vital role in avoiding a whitewash 5-0 for the third time in three years.

Stokes suffered a low-grade tear while bowling in the first innings and couldn’t bowl a single over after that. He came out to bat in the first innings and stitched a partnership of 128 runs for the fifth wicket in Bairstow before getting dismissed for 66 runs. Stokes didn’t bowl in the second innings but played a crucial role with the bat. He made 60 runs off 123 balls.

While speaking to Daily Mail, Stokes said that he wants to play the last Test of the Ashes despite his low-grade tear injury. He also pointed out that he would play as a specialist batter and might not be able to bowl a single over. Stokes’ inclusion in the next match would depend on how his side strain responds to the treatment.

Ben Stokes said, “I want to play the 5th Ashes Test despite low-grade tear, but my position in the team as the specialist batter would depend on how my side strain responded to treatment,” said Stokes as quoted by Daily Mail.

Apart from Ben Stokes, the English team is likely to miss a few more stars

Stokes was not the only player who sustained an injury during the last Test. Jos Buttler and Bairstow also suffered injuries that might be a point of concern for the English team management. Buttler suffered a finger fracture and it has ruled him out of the next Test match. Bairstow took a blow on his thumb during the first innings when he made a century and became the first English player to achieve this feat on this tour.

England is scheduled to play three Test matches in West Indies in March. Hence, the management would want these three players to remain fit enough to take part in that series. England has already asked Sam Billings to join the squad and he might make his Test debut when England takes the field against Australia in Hobart.