England Test captain Ben Stokes had an injection in his troublesome left knee before departing for his stint in the Indian Premier League.<\/span><\/p>\n Stokes, 31, struggled with the long-standing problem in the second Test against New Zealand in February.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n He had a scan on his return to the UK and although nothing untoward was revealed, had the injection prior to joining up with Chennai Super Kings.<\/span><\/p>\n Chennai meet defending champions Gujarat Titans in Friday’s IPL opener.<\/span><\/p>\n Super Kings paid \u00a31.6m to sign Stokes in December’s auction. Batting coach Mike Hussey said the all-rounder is likely to play as a specialist batter in the opening stages of the tournament.<\/span><\/p>\n “He’s ready to go as a batsman from the start, the bowling might be wait and see. I know he had his first very light bowl this week since he had his injections in his knee,” said the Australian.<\/span><\/p>\n “My understanding is he won’t be bowling much at all in the first few games of the tournament, or it might be a few weeks. Hopefully we’ll get him bowling at some stage in the tournament.”<\/span><\/p>\n Stokes has previously said he will miss the latter stages of the IPL, which ends on 28 May, in order to prepare for England’s Test against Ireland, beginning on 1 June.<\/span><\/p>\n In the second Test against New Zealand, which England thrillingly lost by one run after enforcing the follow-on, Stokes did not bowl and suffered with his knee when batting on the final day.<\/span><\/p>\n “I’m not going to lie – it is very frustrating knowing that I’ve got something holding me back in terms of my body,” he said at the time.<\/span><\/p>\n England Test coach Brendon McCullum also said that Stokes would not be jeopardising his fitness for the summer’s Ashes series by taking part in the IPL.<\/span><\/p>\n “I’ve no concerns that the skipper will be totally looked after and I also believe that the Ashes is the script that the skipper is waiting to write, so he’ll be sweet,” said the New Zealander.<\/span><\/p>\n
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