Ben Stokes gives England fitness boost ahead of Ashes warm-up Test against Ireland

Captain Ben Stokes says his knee injury “is in a much better place” as England prepare to take on Ireland in their only warm-up Test ahead of taking on Australia in this summer's Ashes.

Stokes has had cortisone injections in his left knee ahead of this year's Indian Premier League. The all-rounder then played only two games for Chennai Super Kings in the T20 tournament, having struggled for fitness during England's last red-ball series in New Zealand.

He did not bowl at all in England's last Test – February's defeat by New Zealand in Wellington – but Stokes insists he is ready and the only way he will be missing this summer is if he “can't walk”.

“Yeah, look the knee is in a much better place than it was in Wellington,” said the 31-year-old ahead of the game against Ireland at Lord's starting on Thursday.

“I've been in India for the IPL over the last nine to 10 weeks but what I have done is get myself into a position where I am not able to look back and regret or say I have not given myself the best opportunity to play a full role with the ball this summer.

“I have worked incredibly hard with the medical team in Chennai, who were liaising with the ECB guys and got myself into a place where I feel like I am back in a 2019, 2020 space in terms of my own body and fitness.”

“I have definitely given myself the best opportunity, but the mind and body are different things. But yeah, I have given myself the best chance. Unless I can't walk, I'll be on the field.”

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