ENGLAND coach Brendon McCullum is convinced a long stint at the IPL will not worsen Ben Stokes’ knee injury or prevent him writing his own Ashes “script” this summer.

The dust has barely settled on one of the most remarkable matches in the long history of Test cricket – a thrilling one-run defeat by New Zealand in Wellington – but attention is already turning to the forthcoming visit of the Australians.

The hotly-anticipated series begins at Edgbaston in less than four months, with a revitalised England attempting to reclaim the urn for the first time since 2015, and Stokes’ troublesome left knee is already a cause for concern.

He was barely able to bowl in New Zealand, contributing just nine overs across two Tests, and was in visible pain while batting during the dramatic day five run chase at Basin Reserve.

Stokes’ importance as a totemic leader of the side cannot be overstated – he has overseen ten wins from 12 games despite this week’s setback – but the Durham all-rounder has already confirmed he will honour his £1.6m deal with Chennai Super Kings later this month, spending up to eight weeks with the franchise.

McCullum was due to play golf with his fellow Kiwi and current CSK head coach Stephen Fleming yesterday, with Stokes’ well-being on the agenda.

“I’ve got a tee-time with Flem, so I’ll be talking to him and making sure he looks after the skipper,” said McCullum. “He sees the big picture, so I’ve no concerns that Ben will be totally looked after. I also believe that the Ashes is the script that the skipper is waiting to write, so he’ll be sweet. I don’t have any concerns.

“I don’t think he’s jeopardising it. I know that Chennai set-up, I played for that franchise and it is excellent in looking after the players. They’ve got a very good medical team."