Ben Stokes Working on Alignment to Lessen Pain on Lower Back
Apr 2, 2018 at 12:47 PM
England all-rounder Ben Stokes admitted it is frustrating to play the ongoing Test against New Zealand with a back injury.
Meanwhile, Stokes sustained the injury during the ODI series against the Kiwis. As a result of the back problem, he couldn’t bowl in the first Test.
However, he bowled only six overs in the ongoing Test with a shortened run-up.
“It’s been [a] frustrating. I had a few injections into an injury I had when I was a kid,” Stokes said to Test Match Special. “At the same time, it’s getting slowly better. It’s a patience game, a day-to-day thing. Hopefully, in a week or two time, it will be good to go,” he added.
Stokes along with England’s bowling coach is looking to realign his bowling action to reduce the stress.
“I’m on working alignment, it’s more a long-term plan. I think if I can cancel out my dip-in, which obviously loads my lower back where I’ve had the pain recently, that will do me good in the future.
“When I was looking at my paces off that [short run-up] I was bowling as fast as I normally do. I don’t think I’ll resort to that short of a run-up, but it proves to me that I don’t need to over-try. Sometimes I’ve been guilty of that,” Stokes stated.
Meanwhile, Stokes played a handy knock of 66 in the second essay of the first Test. However, He got out softly to a Niel Wagner delivery.
“I won’t look back on the dismissal with too much pleasure, but I had time at the crease which was a pleasing thing,” he said. “Going forward it’s a template I can use, I have the game to push games on but also the patience to survive,” added Stokes.
The dashing all-rounder will feature for Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming IPL.