England captain Ben Stokes plays down fresh injury concerns and insists he WILL be fit for the second Test against New Zealand despite hurting his back

Ben Stokes has played down fresh injury concerns after he failed to complete his sixth over on the fourth morning of the first Test against New Zealand, insisting he would be fit for this week’s second game.

The England captain, who had said before the game that his body was ‘good as gold’ after worries about his hamstring had limited him to 10 overs in two Tests in Pakistan, felt a twinge in his back after going for a catch on the first day at Hagley Oval.

But he insisted: ‘There was just a little bit of stiffness, and where we were in the game I thought, do I really need to do this and put myself at risk when I can just get through the rest of the game and go again in Wellington? 

‘So it was more of a precaution than anything else. I’ll be fine for Wellington.’

Instead, Stokes was left to praise his ‘three-in-one’ Durham team-mate Brydon Carse, who became the first England seamer to take 10 wickets in an overseas Test since Ryan Sidebottom against New Zealand at Hamilton in March 2008.

‘I’ve known Brydon’s ability and skill for a while,’ he said. ‘I’ve watched him make his way at Durham for a couple of years, and there was no doubt I my mind that he was going to have an impact at the top level, and he’s got the rewards for a tough tour of Pakistan.

Stokes felt a twinge in his back during the first Test and withdrew as a precaution

He praised bowler Brydon Carse, saying he had no doubt he would impress at the top level 

‘To have a bowler in your attack who can almost be three bowlers in one is massive. I use him as the enforcer when we go to the short stuff. But he’s taken a lot of wickets this week as well, and his economy rate’s been below three.

‘He can fit in with whatever you need. And having him down the order at 10 makes our batting line-up really deep.’

Stokes was a pillar of strength earlier this year during Carse’s three-month ban for historic gambling offences, and Carse admitted: ‘Ben was one of the first people I spoke to. Over the past four or five months he’s been there, in person or over the phone. I cannot thank him enough.

‘I’ve known Ben for 10 years, and we have a good relationship. To have him captain me is a massive factor – he knows my cricket inside out. It’s a very calming influence on me, letting me be myself and play my natural game.’