“Ben Stokes Is Ready to Go as a…” Batting Coach Michael Hussey Reveals the Role of the Englishmen

Ahead of the much-anticipated and much-awaited IPL 2023, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting coach Michael Hussey revealed that CSK’s overseas recruit Ben Stokes will play as a specialist batter at the start of this year’s IPL. England’s Test Captain is managing an injury to his left knee, which is why he may not bowl in the first few games for CSK. Stokes joined the CSK camp last week along with countryman Moeen Ali and has started training with the team ahead of their season opener against defending champions Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Friday night. He’s carrying a knee injury and he has opted to practice at full tilt.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the latest scan on the knee has no signs of risk. As a precautionary measure, Stokes has taken a cortisone injection, an anti-inflammatory injection, to reduce swelling. This will help him gain strength in his injured knee. Batting coach of CSK Michael Hussey informed that Stokes might have to refrain from bowling during the initial few matches of the tournament. The ex-CSK opener remains hopeful of Stokes bowling at some stage in the tournament.

Stokes to Start the IPL 2023 as a Pure Batter

“My understanding is he’s ready to go as a batsman from the start. The bowling might be wait and see. I know he had his first very light bowl yesterday [Sunday] since he had his injections in his knee. The physios from Chennai and the ECB are working pretty closely together. My understanding is he won’t be bowling much at all in the first few games of the tournament… it might be a few weeks. I’m not 100% sure, [but we will] hopefully get him bowling at some stage in the tournament,” Michael Hussey was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

In 43 IPL games so far, Stokes has scored just 920 runs at a modest average of 25.56 and has scalped up 28 wickets with the ball in hand. The Englishmen is one of the best all-rounders in the world right now, which is why CSK broke the bank for him, shelling out a record sum of INR 16.25 crore for his services.

Chennai’s most expensive player in the auction, Stokes could fit into the Chennai team as a pure batter, given his skill and consistency over the last 12-18 months. CSK’s balance in the side will allow Stokes to be a part of the playing XI even if he doesn’t bowl. The question remains where CSK will make him bat in the lineup.