Ben Stokes, England, injury, Bangladesh, ICC Champions Trophy 2017
Ben Stokes will undergo a fitness test before the start of the matchReuters

Ben Stokes is the big question mark for England as the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 gets underway with the hosts playing Bangladesh in the opener on Thursday.

This match at The Oval is expected to go one way, but there is an injury cloud hanging over one of those men that England rely on heavily.

Stokes picked up a knee problem during England's three-match ODI series against South Africa, and while that injury did not seem to bother him too much as far as batting was concerned – he hit an impressive century in the second ODI – the all-rounder did struggle with his bowling.

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There were suggestions that Stokes could play this opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy just as a batsman, but Eoin Morgan, speaking to reporters on the eve of the match, seemed confident his main man would be able to bowl.

Stokes took part in a bowling session on Wednesday and came back with no signs of ill-comfort, and the Rising Pune Supergiant man will come in earlier than the rest of his England teammates to the ground to have a fitness test.

Not to see if he can play, but to check how much, if at all, he can bowl in this game against Bangladesh.

The other question for England ahead of the start of ICC CT 2017 was if Jonny Bairstow can sneak into the playing XI after putting up some impressive performances with the bat.

Jason Roy is the one under pressure, having failed with the bat in recent times, but Morgan was pretty emphatic about the fact that his first-choice opener will remain just that – first choice for the rest of the tournament.

That is a decision that makes complete sense too. Because, as good as Bairstow is, Roy is a match-winner, a destroyer that can take absolutely any bowling lineup apart and set the game up for England.

Sabbir Rahman, Bangladesh, Luke Ronchi, New Zealand, ICC Champions Trophy
Sabbir Rahman will hope to find a place in the Bangladesh playing XIGetty Images

Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali had niggles in the series against South Africa, but both are fit to take their places in the lineup.

Bangladesh also have a decision to make regarding their top order, with a debate over who should bat at No.3 – Imrul Kayes or Sabbir Rahman.

Sabbir has gotten the nod more often than not, and while the right-hander has flattered to deceive at times, it looks like the more aggressive batsman is set to get the nod to play this Champions Trophy Match 1 against England.

Mashrafe Mortaza, the captain, also has to make a decision over which seam bowler to pick alongside himself and Mustafizur Rahman. Rubel Hossain and Taskin Ahmed are the ones vying for a shot in the playing XI, with Rubel the more impressive bowler in the warm-up games.

Mehedi Hasan looks likely to be picked as well, ahead of Sunzamul Islam, with the latter giving a much more solid batting option.

Confirmed playing XI:

England: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (C), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, Jake Ball, Mark Wood.

 

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hussain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman.