BATTLING BEN SHRUGS OFF KNEE INJURY

BEN STOKES handed England a boost after being given the green light to bat and bowl in today’s second ODI in Southampton.

A scan on his sore left knee proved “inconclusive” and he trained with heavy strapping, before taking much of it off to allow him to bowl on the outfield.

There is every chance Stokes (above) won’t be asked to send down his full complement of 10 overs, but his presence in the side allows England to keep their Champions Trophy preparations on track.

The 25-year-old is not a man to sit out a game lightly but only time will tell if it is a gamble worth taking.

Without their talismanic all-rounder, England would have had a big decision over who to replace him, with batsman Jonny Bairstow and bowler David Willey both options.

“If Stokes is out of the team, they’d have to almost pick two players for the same role, which is something we had to do when Jacques Kallis hung up his boots,” said South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis.