“Very emotional about the whole thing”- Ben Stokes issues injury update after NZ vs ENG 2024 3rd Test
England captain Ben Stokes acknowledged being emotional about the recurrence of the hamstring injury on Day 3 of the third and final Test against New Zealand in Hamilton. Plagued by injury over the past year, the 33-year-old was finally able to contribute with bat and ball through the New Zealand series before pulling in the series finale.
After bowling 24 overs in the first innings, Stokes had to stop midway through his 13th over in the second innings due to the injury. It meant the veteran all-rounder could not bat in the final innings as England suffered a massive 423-run defeat.
Speaking after the New Zealand series, Stokes was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo:
"I worked really hard to get myself into position to play the role that I did this game. And it's just one of those unfortunate things. But nah, I ain't holding back. Obviously, [I was] incredibly disappointed walking off yesterday, very emotional about the whole thing. You're always asking yourself, 'Could I have done more? Should have done this, should have done that?"
He added:
"But you know, when you sleep in it, and you take the emotion out of it, you realise that when you're walking out there, you're always putting yourself at risk of an injury. Every time you walk out to field as an athlete, you're putting yourself at risk of getting injury. Whether you feel great or you don't feel great. I worked my arse off to get to where I was in this game in particularly with my body. It's just sod's law - the first time in a while I feel like I'm young again, something happens."
Stokes underwent knee surgery at the end of last year to return to bowling at full tilt. He tore his hamstring during the Hundred a few months back, resulting in him missing the entire home series against Sri Lanka and the first Test in Pakistan.
With his left thigh heavily strapped, Stokes will have a scan in Hamilton on Wednesday, December 18.
"We came here to beat New Zealand" - Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes was delighted with the Test series win in New Zealand despite the heavy defeat in the final Test at Hamilton.
Apart from bowling 66 overs and picking up seven wickets, Stokes scored 158 runs at a healthy average of 52.66 in the series. England won the opening two Test by eight wickets and 323 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead before the slip-up in the final outing.
"We came here to beat New Zealand, a team who wherever they go in the world are very competitive and knew they were going to be full of confidence after their historic win in India. To play the cricket that we did in the first two games was very, very pleasing. We came here this week with the same attitude, same mindset, that we always do in the first two games out here. We just didn't play anywhere near our capabilities," said Stokes.
He concluded:
"It's obviously disappointing to end the tour and the year with a loss. But what we came here to acheive, we managed to achieve. It's no mean feat coming to New Zealand and beating them becease they're a very very strong team in their home conditions."
While Mitchell Santner was the Player of the Match of the final Test for his 125 runs and seven wickets, Harry Brook was the Player of the Series for scoring 350 runs at an average of 70 with two centuries.