Chris Woakes hopes Ben Stokes' knee issue is not serious: "The medical team will be working really hard"

Stokes pulled up after bowling just two overs on day one in Hamilton, as New Zealand reached 173 for 3 before rain cut the action short

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Chris Woakes is holding out hope that the knee injury sustained Ben Stokes on the first day of the second Test against New Zealand does not rule his teammate out of the England attack for the remainder of the match.

Stokes pulled up after bowling just two overs on day one in Hamilton, as New Zealand reached 173 for 3 before rain cut the action short.

The fifth member of the tourists' all-seam line-up at Seddon Park was visibly struggling with an issue in his left knee and will be assessed by the England medical staff overnight.

"Ben is one of the hardest trainers and works hard on his fitness and everything," Woakes added. "Hopefully we can get that right. The medical team will be working really hard to do that," said Woakes, who came into the side in place of Jack Leach.

"There's a bit of a gap between the end of this Test match and the start of the South Africa one so hopefully (they can) get him as close to 100 per cent as possible."

^{Ben Stokes spills a catch off Tom Latham}

Should Stokes be ruled out of playing any further part with the ball in the second Test, England's four-man seam attack will have to shoulder the burden.

"Ben's overs are not just a bonus, he's a world-class bowler when he's at his best," Woakes said. "Of course we'll move his overs, whether he can bowl or not I don't know.

"He's obviously got a bit of pain in that left knee, I don't know exactly what it is but of course we want a Ben Stokes at full tilt if we can because he's world class."

England were frustrated by a fifth Test century in 10 innings by Tom Latham, the New Zealand opener, on Friday.

Latham went to three figures after being given a life by Stokes, who dropped him in the slip cordon off the bowling of Jofra Archer on 66.

"Ben, in particular, is probably the hardest trainer I've ever seen, particularly when it comes to his fielding and his catching," Woakes said.

"It's just the way it goes. Unfortunately we've put a couple down and it's hurt us, hopefully this one won't hurt us quite as badly as the last one did."

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