Monday 19 March 2018 10:00, UK
Ben Stokes is expected to bowl against New Zealand when the two-Test series begins at Eden Park on Thursday, live on Sky Sports Cricket.
The all-rounder has had a stiff back since the end of England's one-day international series win over the Kiwis and had to test his fitness indoors after heavy showers put Auckland's Eden Park nets off limits.
Stokes batted for 20 minutes against throw-downs and then got through five scheduled overs of bowling "without any issues".
"His plan is to bowl tomorrow and on Wednesday outdoors," an England and Wales Cricket Board spokesperson said.
"If he comes through, which he is expected to, he will bowl in the Auckland Test."
Stokes is sure to play in some capacity in the day-night fixture, but his bowling condition will have a major impact on selection for the remainder of the team.
If he were to play as a specialist batsman, it is likely England would have to sacrifice incumbent number three James Vince in order to make room for a fourth seamer - probably Craig Overton.
In turn, captain Joe Root would then have to decide whether he or Dawid Malan should move up the order to three - with Stokes at five.
Stokes missed the first of England's two warm-up fixtures against a New Zealand XI in Hamilton last week, a two-day pink-ball match, and then played as a batsman only in the second.
