Stokes to have knee surgery after World Cup

Venue: Ahmedabad Date: Saturday, 4 November Time: 08:30 GMT

Coverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. The website and app will also have live text commentary and in-play video clips (UK users only)

England Test captain Ben Stokes says he will undergo surgery after the World Cup to address his ongoing knee issue.

They return to India for a five-match Test series, starting on 25 January, but Stokes says he hopes to be fit.

“There was a lot of time put into deciding when to get it done,” said Stokes.

“Obviously the India Test series which we start at the end of January, I should be fine to go by then.”

England play Australia on Saturday before their campaign concludes a week later against Pakistan on 11 November.

It is understood England will fly to the United Arab Emirates for a practice camp before the India series, leaving him around eight weeks to recover in time to travel with the squad.

Stokes has been hampered by his knee issue throughout recent years, although he has declined to reveal more about the exact nature of the injury when asked.

When revealing the surgery he remained coy on the specific details of the operation but said he is not viewing it as career-threatening.

“I always go down with the docs and the physios and they use language that I’ve never heard before,” he said.

“There’s obviously something that needs to be operated on.

“I’ll switch off and let the surgeon do what he does best, which is fix knees.”

Stokes made a shock u-turn on his one-day international retirement to play in England’s World Cup defence and after doing so said he had a “very good plan in place” to fix the issue.

He has not bowled since 1 July – day four of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s – which has left England with difficulties balancing their Test and 50-over teams.

He said he hoped the operation would allow him to play a full role as an all-rounder in the future.

“It’s been a big hindrance on me and affected what I can do for the team,” he said.

“Obviously bowling is what I want to be doing.

“You’d hope it means that I can get back to doing what I’ve been known for, which is playing a role as a batter, and playing a role as a bowler as well.”

England are already all but out of the World Cup with five defeats in six matches effectively ending their hopes of reaching the semi-finals with three games to play.

Defeat against old rivals Australia in Ahmedabad would mathematically end their hopes.