"It's the same hamstring that he's had before” - Marcus Trescothick reacts after Ben Stokes limps off the field on Day 3 of 3rd NZ vs ENG 2024 Test
England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick has revealed that Ben Stokes picked up an issue in the same hamstring that has troubled him previously. The England captain was forced to walk off on day three of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand in Hamilton.
The incident came in the 56th over of New Zealand's second innings as Stokes clutched his hamstring after sending down only two deliveries of his 12th. He didn't return to the field for the remaininder of the innings as Jacob Bethell completed his over.
Speaking at the post-day presser, the ex-England opener observed that Stokes had been going quite well and the issue he picked was unexpected. As quoted by ESPN Cricinfo, he said:
"It's the same hamstring that he's had before. He's been going so well, he's been bowling and playing the role that he does as an all-rounder and captain. We didn't see it coming, you don't have any signs of these sort of things…generally they just happen."
The 33-year-old suffered a similar hamstring strain during The Hundred 2024, forcing him to miss the home series against Sri Lanka. Stokes didn't bowl during the Pakistan tour but has rolled his arms over in all three Tests against New Zealand.
"He works dramatically well with his fitness" - Marcus Trescothick on Ben Stokes
Trescothick claimed that Stokes had shown signs of approaching full fitness. But he added the latest setback could force them to manage his bowling workloads moving forward. He added:
"I still think he's shown signs over the course of this series that getting back to fitness he is going to have that level. Maybe it's a case that you manage his bowling loads and he doesn't bowl the volume that he's potentially bowled in this game.
"Injuries happen, right? they're always going to be part of the game. He works dramatically well with his fitnss, to try and get into the shape he can be. He bowled 24 in the first innings, and he was bowling quite a few in this (second) innings [12.2 overs]. We'll just have to look at how we manage it."
New Zealand have set England an improbable 658 to win and left them reeling at 18/2 at Stumps.