England’s Ben Stokes is set to have surgery at the end of the World Cup as he attempts to conquer his long-standing left knee injury.
The Test captain has been struggling with the problem for at least 18 months and has had to play as a specialist batter recently, with his body unable to cope with the rigours of bowling.
Stokes suggested he was considering an operation after this summer’s Ashes series, which he laboured through in visible discomfort, but instead chose to come out of ODI retirement and take part in England’s title defence in India.
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With England on the way out at the end of the group stage, he is likely to go under the knife before the end of the month and will hope to be ready to lead his side’s Test tour of India in the new year.
The first Test in Hyderabad starts on January 25, with the team expected to fly out to the United Arab Emirates for a warm-up camp two weeks earlier.
Stokes, speaking on the eve of his side’s clash with Ashes rivals Australia in Ahmedabad, said: “I am having surgery after the World Cup. I will hopefully be fine for the Test series (against India).”
Pressed for further details, he added: “When we go to those meetings we generally take a physio and doctor and they start talking. I just turn up, go to sleep, wake up and hope it is better.”
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