"Raring to go for Wellington...": Stokes plays down fitness concerns following NZ win - World News Network

Christchurch [New Zealand], December 1 (ANI): Following his side’s win against New Zealand in the first Test at Christchurch, England Test skipper Ben Stokes played down concerns over his fitness and said that he is “raring to go for Wellington” and play the second Test of the series there.
Though England’s win had plenty of highlight moments, be it Harry Brook’s rampaging 171, Ollie Pope’s return-to-form 77, Brydon Carse’s all-round show which included a landmark ten-wicket haul in the match and Stokes’ solid knock of 80, it did not come without any hiccups. Stokes faced an injury scare during the fourth day, pulling out of his second over midway as he had tweaked his back while fielding.
Following the match, Stokes said as quoted by Sky Sports, “I hurt my back diving for a ball so it was management more than anything else. Where we were in the game, I did not feel it necessary to eke out any more balls.”
“I think the body is going to be good for this outing and I am raring to go for Wellington,” he concluded.
During the match, Stokes had delivered a total of 19.3 overs, his heaviest Test bowling workload since the first Test in Pakistan in 2022, which came two years ago. Over the last few years, Stokes has struggled with injuries, notably knee issues that prevented him from bowling till this year and the hamstring injury this August during The Hundred tournament that caused him to miss Sri Lanka’s tour to England and first Test against Pakistan.
Coming to the match, England won the toss and opted to field first. The fifties from a returning Kane Williamson (93 in 197 balls, with 10 fours) and Glenn Phillips (58 in 87 balls, with six fours and a six) were crucial in NZ reaching 348/10.
Brydon Carse (4/64) and Shoaib Bashir (4/69) were top bowlers for England.
In the next innings, thanks to a fine century from a red-hot Harry Brook (171 in 197 balls, with 15 fours and three sixes) and half-centuries from Ollie Pope (77 in 98 balls, with eight fours) and skipper Ben Stokes (80 in 146 balls, with nine fours), England reached a lead of 151 runs, getting all out for 499 runs.
In their next innings, despite fifties from Kane (61 in 86 balls, with seven fours) and Daryl Mitchell (84 in 167 balls, with 12 fours and a six), the Kiwis were bundled out for 254 runs, giving themselves only 103 runs lead. Carse (6/42) completed a memorable ten-wicket haul while Chris Woakes got three scalps.
England chased down the total with eight wickets in hand, with Bethell (50* in 35 balls, with eight fours and a six) unbeaten with Joe Root (23* in 15 balls, with three fours and a six).
Carse secured a ‘Player of the Match’ for his 10 wicket haul and a knock of 33* in 24 balls in the first innings.
England is 1-0 up in the three-match series, with the second Test in Wellington from December 6 onwards. (ANI)

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