England captain Ben Stokes not risking fitness for Ashes by playing IPL - Brendon McCullum

Ben Stokes has said helium knows the contented with his near genu but volition not uncover it successful public

England Test skipper Ben Stokes is not risking his fittingness for this summer's Ashes against Australia by playing successful the Indian Premier League, according to manager Brendon McCullum.

The 31-year-old has confirmed helium volition play for Chennai Super Kings successful the IPL, which starts connected 31 March.

"He knows however to get close for the large moments," said McCullum.

All-rounder Stokes was lone capable to vessel 2 overs successful Wellington, past struggled physically portion batting connected the last day. He scored 33 from 116 balls arsenic England fell agonisingly abbreviated of their people of 258 successful 1 of the top finishes successful Test history.

Stokes said the wounded is "incredibly frustrating" and confirmed helium knows what the occupation is but would not uncover it.

This play volition beryllium his archetypal astatine the IPL since 2021, erstwhile helium suffered a severely breached digit playing for Rajasthan Royals.

Chennai paid £1.63m for Stokes successful December's auction. He said earlier the 2nd Test against New Zealand that helium planned to miss the extremity of the IPL successful bid to hole for England's Test against Ireland astatine Lord's connected 1 June.

Chennai are coached by McCullum's chap New Zealander Stephen Fleming and the brace played play unneurotic connected Wednesday.

"I'll beryllium talking to him and making definite helium looks aft the skipper," said McCullum, who is simply a erstwhile Chennai player.

"They're precise good. They've got a bully squad and an outstanding person successful Flem. He sees the large representation successful everything.

"I've nary concerns that the skipper volition beryllium wholly looked aft and I besides judge that the Ashes is the publication that the skipper is waiting to write, truthful he'll beryllium sweet."

England's archetypal Test successful the five-match Ashes bid against Australia is astatine Edgbaston connected 16 June.

Australia person held the Ashes since 2018 but person not won successful the UK successful 22 years. The past bid hosted by England was drawn 2-2.

"We person the accidental to truly commencement to crippled and program and crook our attraction to what's going to beryllium a beauteous astonishing clip successful the guys' lives: an Ashes bid astatine location against a bully Australian side," said McCullum.

"We'll spell into it with a batch of confidence. We cognize they're a bully side. We'll enactment retired who wins."

McCullum besides said that England batter Zak Crawley retains his afloat support, contempt the opener going 8 innings without passing 50.

Crawley, 25, has played 33 Tests since making his debut successful 2019, averaging 27.60 with the bat.

"I person said close from my clip being present that helium is 1 of those players who is going to beryllium inconsistent due to the fact that of the relation helium is asked to perform, which is to enforce himself connected the absorption and play a benignant that puts them nether pressure," said McCullum.

"Our squad is acceptable up astatine the apical of the bid for Zak to play similar that.

"From my conversations with Ricky Ponting, the Australians respect him for the instinct and powerfulness helium has, and however destructive helium tin be. He is inactive a large subordinate for america moving forward."