Ben Stokes has confirmed that he will be available to bowl for England during their upcoming Test series against South Africa.

The England all-rounder managed to bowl just two overs on the opening day of the second Test against New Zealand in Hamilton, reporting pain in his left knee and throwing into doubt his ability to bowl in the remainder of the Test.

Stokes returned to action the following day, bowling 11 more overs in the first innings and 14 overs on the fifth day.

He had surgery in 2016 after tearing cartilage in his left knee while bowling against Sri Lanka.

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“It’s alright,” Stokes told TalkSport. “I got some scans when we got back in England and there’s nothing really showing up on the MRI scans, which is good news.

“I just need to toughen up I guess but it’s alright and it’s just treatment now. I will be fine to bowl [in South Africa].”

Stokes also lent his support for England captain Joe Root, who bounced back from a tough run of form to hit a double-century in Hamilton.

“Rooty is one of the best players in the world,” Stokes said. “He obviously went through a little bit of a dip in performance but that is natural, he’s human.”

“It’s obviously great for English cricket to see Joe Root go out in his last innings before a big tour and hopefully we can see Rooty scoring runs like he normally does.

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“I actually called Joe to get a double hundred on day one of our first warm-up game to Rory Burns. I think I was stood at slip and I said ‘Joe is going to get a double hundred this tour’.

“It didn’t look like it after the first game but he went out there and managed to do it.”

England’s four-match Test series against South Africa will begin on Boxing Day at Centurion.