England Test captain Ben Stokes will spend time having “serious conversations” about a long-term left-knee problem in the coming weeks.
England’s next red-ball assignment is a five-Test series in India in January, which would allow Stokes an extended break of almost six months as he is likely to sit out The Hundred and all of England’s white-ball matches.
The knee problem has restricted him to bowling just 29 overs during the Ashes and none during in either the third or fourth Tests.
“It’s something I obviously want to get sorted,” said Stokes.
“The time in which I’ve seen specialists and stuff like that there has been cricket around. So as it’s been manageable we’ve just cracked on.
“But I think that is a good time to have some serious conversations with medics around what is potentially something I could do so I can bowl without having to worry about my knee. Those are conversations we will be able to have in that time off.”
Stokes has his sights set on leading England on the next Ashes tour in two-and-a-half years’ time.
Trailing 2-1 in this summer’s series, England can only claim a draw with Australia at best.
The tourists were won the first two tests at Edgbaston and Lords respectively before England gave themselves a fighting chance with victory at Headingley.
However, England’s chances of completing the comeback were dashed after the fourth test was rained off at Old Trafford with the hosts in a commanding position.
“How this series has gone and how close we were it does make you think when we go to Australia do we have a better chance than the last few times we’ve been there?
“Hopefully it’d be nice to go out to Australia in 2025 and have a good chance of winning.
“It’s obviously the big one. It would be nice to say I’ve won the Ashes twice. We’ll just see when 2025 comes around.”
Stokes is now just three Test wickets from joining the exclusive 200 club, joining greats in Jacques Kallis and Garfield Sobers.
And he insists he wants to continue his career as a genuine all-rounder.
“It’s something I’ve done since I was a kid,” he said.
“I said in Wellington after that game [against New Zealand in February], that it has been frustrating in the last couple of years not being able to have the same impact and play the same role I have done for the last 10 years.
“So it’s obviously something I want to be able to do and hopefully can get sorted. I keep forgetting I’m ageing every day.”
The fifth Ashes test begins on Thursday at the Oval.
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