• Brendon McCullum says Ben Stokes is set to lead England amid knee injury.
• The captain only bowled two overs and struggled while batting.
• England is seeking to win the Ashes series for the first time since 2015.

According to coach Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes is adamant about overcoming a recurring knee issue and leading England to victory in the Ashes.

In the fourth innings of an exciting one-run loss to New Zealand in the second Test at Wellington, the captain only bowled two overs and struggled while batting.

Stokes said that it was “extremely annoying,” but he is optimistic that a solution can be found before the summer.

I’m hoping that by the Ashes, I won’t have to worry about it.

England is seeking to win the Ashes series for the first time since 2015 this summer and has three and a half months to make sure the skipper is completely healthy after winning 10 of the last 12 Test matches since Stokes was named captain.

McCullum told, “He’s not moving that well at the moment but the skipper writes his own scripts and he doesn’t get a better stage to write one than the Ashes,”

“I’m sure he’ll be sweet as soon as that arrives.”

He said, “Stokesy’s knee is just something we have to monitor. He’s off to the IPL where there is slightly less demand on his conditioning so hopefully he’ll be fine.

“He’s a tough bloke. He’ll find a way to get through and I know he’s determined to lead this team to Ashes glory as well. We look forward to it.”

The 31-year-old all-rounder appeared to indicate he would continue to play for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League despite the continued issues with his left knee and seemed to imply that his time in India would actually improve his fitness.

“We’ve got three, four months before we get to the Ashes,” he remarked.

“We’re working incredibly hard with our physios and medics to get everything strength-wise around it. But it’s very difficult, out here especially, to get those things in because once the Tests start they come thick and fast.

“It’s a good opportunity out in India now to get myself in a position where I don’t have to worry about my knee any more.

“I’m not going to lie – it is very frustrating knowing that I’ve got something holding me back in terms of my body. But I’ll be doing everything I possibly can to allow me to fulfil that fourth-seamer role like I was able to two or three years ago.”

England’s home games in 2023 (all times BST)