Ben Stokes: ‘Rehab starts now’ - England Test captain has knee surgery ahead of potential return in India

Ben Stokes says the “rehab starts now” after having an operation on a troublesome knee injury which has affected the England Test cricket captain’s ability to perform as an all-rounder.

The 32-year-old posted a picture of himself on crutches outside London’s Cromwell Hospital, with the caption “in and out, under the [knife emoji] done”.

Stokes is now in a race to be fit for the start of a five-Test series in India, which starts in two months time in Hyderabad on Thursday, January 25.

England’s talisman was one of few stand-out performers from the dismal Cricket World Cup defence recently, but at that tournament he was limited to a role as a batter only. He scored a century and two half-centuries having missed the start of the competition with a separate hip niggle.

Stokes spoke in the summer about having a “plan” to deal with the long-standing issue, but surgery was delayed so that he could take part in the World Cup.

He announced he would have the procedure near the back end of the tournament, meaning he misses the ODI and T20 series' with the West Indies, starting on TNT Sports this Sunday.

He bowled a limited number of overs in the first two Ashes Tests with Australia, but was unable to play a role with the ball for the next three.

Should Stokes return to full fitness as a proper all-rounder, it will help England fill the gap left by Stuart Broad’s retirement. The captain is three Test wickets away from reaching 200 scalps from 97 matches, and has an average of 32.07.

Stokes last week withdrew from playing in next year’s Indian Premier League, with the Durham man focusing instead on national team commitments - with home Test series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka to come, as well as a busy schedule in limited overs cricket.

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