Ben Stokes: England captain ‘ain’t holding back’ despite latest injury

England captain Ben Stokes says he “ain’t holding back” with his bowling, despite suffering a second hamstring injury in the space of five months.

Stokes, 33, limped off the field on the third day of the 423-run defeat by New Zealand in the third Test in Hamilton. He will have a scan on Wednesday.

The 23 overs Stokes bowled on the first day is the most he has sent down in a single day. The 36.2 overs in the match is his most for more than two years and 66.1 in the series is Stokes’ most as captain.

“I’m obviously very disappointed, but every setback I come back stronger,” Stokes told BBC Sport.

“There’s no doubt I’ll be going away from here, working [hard] as I always do and getting myself back to where I was in this game.”

Stokes’ bowling was hampered throughout 2023 by a long-term left knee problem, upon which he had surgery a year ago.

He then suffered the first hamstring problem playing in The Hundred in August, causing the Durham man to miss three Tests against Sri Lanka and one in Pakistan.

Stokes admitted the effort to get fit for the final two Tests in Pakistan took a mental toll, but he looked back to his best in New Zealand, the country of his birth.

In Hamilton, he was bowling his third over of the third day, then pulled up in his follow-through. He was emotional as he left the field and played no further part in the match. It was initially thought he would have a scan before the fourth day, only for it to be delayed until after the Test.