England’s Test captain Ben Stokes has said that the only reason that he will not be taking the field for Ashes 2023 will be if he can’t walk. Stokes will be leading the Three Lions for their one-off Test match against Ireland beginning on Thursday ahead of a brand new chapter in cricket’s oldest rivalry which begins at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham on June 16. Notably, the 31-year-old had to take a cortisone injection in what has been a prolonged knee injury in March. He then only featured in two games for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 which the side went on to win by beating Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final.

“I’ve given myself the best possible chance to play a big role, especially with the ball,” he told BBC Sport. “The knee is in a much better place than what it was in Wellington,” he said.

Notably, Stokes did not roll his arms over in England’s most recent Test apperance in which they had succumbed to a defeat against New Zealand in Wellington earlier this year. “I’ve worked incredibly hard with the medical team in Chennai (CSK), who were liaising with the England guys,” he stated.

“I know I won’t look back on this summer and regret any decisions that I had in the build-up period, because I’ve worked my nuts off. Unless I can’t walk, I’ll be on the field.”

As far further team news is concerned, England are all set to hand a debut to Worcestershire pacer Josh Tongue in the solitary fixture against Ireland. Further, veteran James Anderson and fellow pacer Ollie Robinson have been left out from the team as they recover from minor injuries but the English captain said hat had this been the first Test of the Ashes series instead, Stokes would have been able to play.