Brendon McCullum has insisted Ben Stokes is "determined to lead England to Ashes glory" amid concerns over a chronic knee problem.
Stokes has been managing a left knee issue since taking over as captain last summer, but clearly struggled with it more than usual in the second Test against New Zealand. He bowled just two overs all game and showed signs of discomfort while fielding and batting in the final innings.
Stokes himself admitted the injury was "holding me back", but both he and McCullum are confident he will be back to his best ahead of the Ashes. "Stokesy's knee is just something we have to monitor," McCullum told BT Sport.
"He's off to the IPL where there is slightly less demand on his conditioning so hopefully he'll be fine. He's a tough bloke, he'll find a way to get through and I know he's determined to lead this team to Ashes glory as well. We look forward to it."
"He's not moving that well at the moment but the skipper writes his own scripts and he doesn't get a better stage to write one than the Ashes," McCullum added to BBC Sport. "I'm sure he'll be sweet as soon as that arrives."
And Stokes believes his upcoming stint in the IPL with the Chennai Super Kings, who bought him for a whopping £1.63m, will help him "get myself in a position where I don't have to worry about my knee anymore".
"We've got three, four months before we get to the Ashes," he said. "We're working incredibly hard with our physios and medics to get everything strength-wise around it.
"But it's very difficult, out here especially, to get those things in because once the Tests start they come thick and fast. It's a good opportunity out in India now to get myself in a position where I don't have to worry about my knee anymore.
"I'm not going to lie, it is very frustrating knowing that I've got something holding me back in terms of my body. It's been frustrating but I'll be doing everything I possibly can to allow me to fulfil that fourth seamer role like I was able to two or three years ago."
