It appeared to be a precautionary move, and is understood to have been due to stiffness in his lower back. Stokes decided not to risk doing further damage, with Gus Atkinson brought in to complete the over, but remained on the field through to lunch. New Zealand were bowled out for 254, with Brydon Carse taking 6 for 42 for 10 wickets in the match, leaving England a modest chase of 104 for victory at Hagley Oval which they knocked off in 12.4 overs.
Stokes played his soreness down as much as possible in the post-match presentation, and declared himself fit for the second Test in Wellington, which starts on Friday. “I’ve not spent that much time out in the middle for a long time,” he said. “It’s been a pretty heavy week this week: a lot of time in the field, bowled 20 overs, and then spent some time out in the middle.”
He also revealed that he had sustained the back issue while fielding. “I hurt my back diving for a ball as well,” he said. “It’s more management than anything else: with where we were in the game, it didn’t feel necessary to eke out any more balls than I needed to. I think the body is going to be good for this outing, and I’m raring to go for Wellington.”
Stokes had knee surgery last November to fix a long-term issue, and pulled out of this year’s T20 World Cup to manage his return to bowling. He took five wickets against West Indies in his comeback series, taking him past 200 in Tests, but then tore his hamstring in the Hundred and missed four Tests as a result.
