ODI World Cup 2023: Ben Stokes yet to regain full fitness, likely to miss clash against Bangladesh

Ben Stokes, who took a U-turn on his ODI retirement to play in the ongoing 50-over World Cup in India, is nursing a left hip niggle that is likely to keep him out for a second consecutive game.

England opened their campaign by receiving a thrashing at the hands of New Zealand last week in Ahmedabad. The defending champions lost by nine wickets in a game that Stokes missed due to his injury. While the star all-rounder returned to the nets on Sunday and looked much more comfortable on Monday, England captain Jos Buttler reckoned that he is probably going to miss Tuesday's crucial encounter against Bangladesh in Dharamsala.

"It's good to see him back in the nets and building back towards full fitness, but he's probably unlikely for tomorrow," Buttler said at the pre-match press conference. Stokes might return to the side for England's third game in the marquee event against Afghanistan in Delhi on Sunday.

'It's definitely an option' - Jos Buttler on possibility of picking extra seamer against Bangladesh

The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala is one of the venues in India which gives assistance to seam bowlers. However, the game between Afghanistan and Bangladesh was an anomaly as the pitch was slow and offered a lot of help to the spinners. The track for the England versus Bangladesh encounter in the ODI World Cup 2023 is going to be a fresh one and Buttler felt that pace and bounce could be on the offing. In the same light, Buttler opined that there is room to bring an extra seamer into the playing XI.

"It's definitely an option. I played here in the IPL just gone, and there can be some good pace and bounce in the wicket. So certainly, we'll have those discussions and we've got fantastic options within the squad to pick different line-ups with a different balance. It's something we'll consider," the talismanic wicketkeeper-batter added.

Reece Topley could be the ideal candidate with his tall frame and ability to swing the ball both ways. Moeen Ali could possibly make way for the left-arm seamer.

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