Stokes not blaming injury on workload as New Zealand thump England
Al Jazeera
New Zealand claim consolation 423-run victory in third and final Test as injured England captain Ben Stokes watched on.
England captain Ben Stokes does not think the heavier bowling workload he undertook in the third Test against New Zealand was a contributory factor to the hamstring injury he suffered during the 423-run defeat.
The 33-year-old, who missed four Tests after tearing the same muscle during The Hundred in August, played no further part in the match after suffering the injury on Monday.
“Every time you walk out onto a field as an athlete, you’re putting yourself at risk of getting injury,” Stokes said in Hamilton after England’s loss on Tuesday. “I worked my a** off to get to where I was in this game, in particular, with my body. It’s just Sod’s law that the first time in a while I feel like I’m young again, something happens.”
Stokes bowled 24 overs in New Zealand’s first innings and was two balls into his 13th over of the second when he suffered the injury – a much heavier workload than in the first two Tests, which England won.
The all-rounder said he had been extremely emotional after being forced to leave the field and questioned whether there was anything he could have done differently to avoid the injury.
