Ashes Scout: Hobbling Stokes plays down injury fears, Tongue sticks around in squad after stellar debut

England captain Ben Stokes has played down fears over his fitness before the Ashes after his team wrapped up a Test victory over Ireland by 10 wickets inside three days without him batting or bowling.

Stokes declared with England on 4-524 for four on day two at Lord’s to ensure he was not required with the bat and after struggling with his left knee since it flared up during the New Zealand series in February, he did not bowl on the first day or day three of this one-off Test either.

He had not made any contribution to the scorecard until he caught Curtis Campher off Joe Root during Saturday’s morning session, but the grimace on his face and subsequent hobble to join his team-mates in celebration sent alarm bells ringing ahead of the Ashes opener on June 16.

But Stokes revealed: “I bowled this morning (in the nets) for the first time in four weeks and I felt really good. I was real happy with how I bowled.

“I bowled for about 20 minutes and I got through that really well. Obviously I have got time to build up before I push back into flat out

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