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Ben Stokes has emerged as an injury doubt for England\u2019s World Cup curtain-raiser against New Zealand on Thursday, with a sore hip placing question marks over his place.<\/p>\n
Stokes reversed his year-long retirement from ODI cricket in order to help defend the title he helped secure in 2019, despite concerns over his long-term fitness.<\/p>\n
The 32-year-old has been struggling with a chronic knee condition in recent years and was selected as a specialist batter for the tournament after deciding to spare his body the rigours of bowling.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not the time to take big risks on someone at the start of the tournament<\/p>\n
But on the eve of the opening match at the cavernous Narendra Modi Stadium, the biggest cricket venue on the planet with a capacity of more than 130,000, he was still being assessed.<\/p>\n
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Stokes has not played since smashing 182 against the Black Caps on September 13 and was the only squad member to play no part in this week\u2019s warm-up victory over Bangladesh.<\/p>\n
Captain Jos Buttler, speaking ahead of his side\u2019s final training session, said: \u201cHe\u2019s got a slight niggle with his hip, but fingers crossed that it\u2019ll be good news for us. We\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s working hard with the physios and we\u2019ll know more when the guys arrive for training.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll make the right call. If he\u2019s not fit to play, he\u2019s not fit to play. If he is, we can make that decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not the time to take big risks on someone at the start of the tournament. Nearer the end, maybe you do take more of a risk with people\u2019s injuries but it\u2019s going to be a long tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n