England all-rounder Ben Stokes recently underwent a successful knee surgery, as announced by the Test captain on his Instagram account. Moving into the rehabilitation stage, Stokes faces a race against time to achieve full fitness ahead of the 5-match Test series against India scheduled to commence in late January 2024.
Stokes opted for the surgical procedure due to the significant impact of his knee issues during the 2023 season. His knee problems, marked by chronic tendonitis in his left knee, had affected his game time and bowling performance, notably during the Indian Premier League and the World Cup 2023. Check out the picture post surgery here:
Struggling with the persistent knee problem for the past 18 months, Stokes faced challenges not only in his bowling capabilities but also in adapting his role within the team. The extent of the issue became apparent during England's tour of New Zealand in February, where he couldn't perform at his best due to the injury. Despite efforts such as a cortisone injection in March and a period of rest while playing sparingly for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, his knee did not fully recover.
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During the Ashes series, Stokes' reduced bowling participation, delivering only 29 overs and refraining from bowling in the third and fourth Test matches, prompted England to adjust their team composition by including five bowlers alongside him as a specialist batter.
The impact of his knee problem was evident in the ODI World Cup 2023, where Stokes couldn't bowl, and England's performance suffered, leading to their failure to reach the semifinals. Acknowledging the hindrance caused by his knee issue, Stokes expressed determination to undergo surgery post-World Cup with the hope of regaining his all-rounder status for the upcoming Test series against India in January.