Ben Stokes a fitness doubt for England’s first Test of summer against Ireland

Ben Stokes is the latest player whose fitness for England’s opening Test of the summer has been thrown into doubt, with the coach of his Indian Premier League team admitting that the Test captain is unable to bowl and is being seen simply as “batting cover”, six weeks after his last appearance in the competition.

Despite being signed for around £1.6m in December’s player auction Stokes has so far played only the first two of Lucknow Super Giants’ 12 games, scoring seven and eight and conceding 18 runs in his solitary over. Stephen Fleming has said Stokes is unlikely to appear in their last two matches as the team seeks to seal a place in the playoffs. “Ben’s ability to bowl overs at the moment is still a bit of a challenge but he’s there as batting cover,” the New Zealander said, adding of his potential selection in the remainder of the season that “it’s not our style to chop and change”.

That has also been England’s hallmark in their first year under the stewardship of Stokes and Fleming’s compatriot Brendon McCullum. But for all their consistency of selection there is a lot of uncertainty about the makeup of the side that will play Ireland at Lord’s in a fortnight, and of the squad for that game which will be announced on Tuesday.

Jimmy Anderson’s groin injury, confirmed late on Sunday night after a scan on Saturday, has turned another certain starter into a mere possible – and with the Ashes in mind no risks are likely to be taken against Ireland. Meanwhile the three bowlers of express pace that England had planned to rotate through the summer might all start it on the sidelines, with Jofra Archer still discomfited by an elbow injury, Olly Stone already out with a hamstring strain and Mark Wood at home awaiting the