![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/sport\/sport-135x135.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Ben Stokes revealed he has a \u201cplan\u201d to try to resolve a longstanding problem with his left knee and get back to being a fully fledged all-rounder once the Cricket World Cup has finished.<\/p>\n
England\u2019s Test captain said at the end of the Ashes \u201cserious conversations\u201d would be had about the issue that restricted him to bowling 29 overs in the drawn series and none in the last three matches.<\/p>\n
He has since reversed his ODI retirement for England\u2019s bid to retain their World Cup crown \u2013 having been so influential to their 2019 success \u2013 and will travel to India next month as a specialist batter.<\/p>\n
Once England\u2019s involvement is over in mid-November, Stokes will turn his attention to his ailing limb and attempt to recover in plenty of time for the five-match Test tour of India, starting on January 25.<\/p>\n
However, while Stokes is upbeat about his prognosis, he stopped short of divulging whether an operation is required or if the specialists he has seen have recommended an alternative course of action.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2022\/11\/30\/15\/GettyImages-1388382959%20copy.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2022\/12\/01\/03\/GettyImages-1245251240.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had some good conversations with specialists in different fields around rehab and a plan going forward after the World Cup,\u201d Stokes said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be potential of something happening after the World Cup. There will be a time I make clear what\u2019s going on, but I don\u2019t think now is the right time to do that, with everything we have got coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added to the BBC: \u201cThere\u2019s actually quite a long time off after the World Cup. It\u2019s nice knowing after the World Cup we\u2019ve got something, a really good plan we can do and we can stick to.<\/p>\n
There will be potential of something happening after the World Cup<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to be playing next summer as a genuine all-rounder. This winter is all about playing this World Cup then getting this knee sorted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stokes, who is set for his first ODI in 14 months as England take on New Zealand at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Friday, admitted he was \u201cexhausted, tired (and) had a lot of naps\u201d after a gruelling Ashes.<\/p>\n
A schedule of five Tests in six and a half weeks stretched Stokes to the limit but after a trip away with his family, he confessed the pull of the World Cup was the deciding factor in his ODI comeback.<\/p>\n
Player of the match in the 2019 final, Stokes, whose unbeaten fifty secured T20 World Cup glory last November, insisted he felt no pressure to return from captain Jos Buttler or head coach Matthew Mott.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a conversation that\u2019s been ongoing with Jos and Motty. We kept it pretty internal and just had catch-ups along the road,\u201d Stokes said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t a case of forcing me into coming.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said, \u2018I\u2019m available if you want to select me\u2019. It was nice having that communication, but no push from Jos or Mott. It was nice to know they wanted to pick me even though I probably won\u2019t bowl a ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing into this one as world champions, playing a part in that in 2019, that was an unbelievable moment for us as a team and myself. The idea of going in and potentially being able to win back-to-back World Cups was one of the big things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stokes anticipates he will slot in at number four in the batting order, one position higher than he is accustomed to and in a spot the now-retired Eoin Morgan occupied for the majority of his tenure.<\/p>\n
England are set for their first ODI against the Black Caps since the dramatic 2019 World Cup final at Lord\u2019s \u2013 the teams will also contest this year\u2019s tournament opener in Ahmedabad on October 5.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/07\/18\/d3cdf084a1d9007dbc88ef297f8d586dY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjk0MTkxMjA2-2.73609394.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/07\/17\/b3e9df400c9b6e481de662939ffaab87Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjk0MTgxODA1-2.73632460.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/07\/17\/73d28c0692cf069a3b14ecd4aefbc19eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjk0MTg2NzM3-2.73540802.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
As for their chances this time around, Stokes was in a bullish mood as he added: \u201cIt\u2019s not arrogant for us to say that we\u2019re a very good team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe like our chances but the thing about World Cups is who can handle the pressure the best on any given day. The teams who can handle the emotional side of the sport is something that should never be overlooked.\u201d<\/p>\n