'F**k off Stuart' - Ben Stokes' cheeky response to Stuart Broad over 'dodgy knee' remark

England Test skipper Ben Stokes sent a cheeky comeback to his former teammate Stuart Broad after the veteran pacer expressed concern over the all-rounders' workload. Stokes' fiery spell of bowling was instrumental in Durham's innings victory over Somerset in the County Championship Division 1 clash on May 25.

However, Broad suggested Stokes should avoid lengthy bowling spells with a knee injury. But the comment didn't go down well with the England Test captain. The 32-year-old has been managing a long-standing knee issue that required surgery earlier this year. The all-rounder didn't bowl in England's recent Test tour of India, until the final match in Dharamsala. His workload is being carefully managed.

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Broad after watching Stokes bowl a 10-over spell for Durham showed his concerns for the all-rounder who is recovering from an injury.

"Hi, Ben. Love you & you have a heart of a lion. Please stop bowling 10 overs spells with a dodgy knee," Broad wrote on his X handle.

In typical Stokes fashion, the experienced cricketer hit back at his teammate with a straightforward reply.

"F**k off Stuart what dodgy knee 😉," Stokes replied.

I’m working hard and focusing on building my bowling fitness: Ben Stokes

Despite not bowling for a long time, Stokes was at his usual best, ending with figures of 4/54. Durham successfully dismissed Somerset for 171 in the first innings. When Durham came into bat, Stokes was dismissed for a six-ball duck, as Durham ended with a first-innings score of 265.

In their second innings, Somerset could manage to score just 88 runs on the board. In the second innings, the English skipper picked four wickets and conceded just 23 runs as Durham won the game by by an innings and six runs.

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Stokes had previously opted out of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA to focus on recovering his bowling fitness for England's all-important summer of Test cricket. 

"I’m working hard and focusing on building my bowling fitness back up to fulfill a full role as an all-rounder in all formats of cricket. Opting out of the IPL and the World Cup will hopefully be a sacrifice that allows me to be the all-rounder I want to be for the foreseeable future," he said in a statement as quoted by ecb.co.uk.