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Ben Stokes has bowled for an hour in the Adelaide nets without issue, giving every sign he will be able to deliver for England in the day-night Ashes Test.
England have received a massive boost ahead of the second Ashes Test with Ben Stokes getting through an hour of bowling unscathed in practice.
Stokes has been battling a jarred knee since early in the series-opening loss at the Gabba, managing just 12 overs with the ball while in obvious discomfort.
The 30-year-old claimed in a column on Tuesday he was able to manage the injury, pointing to it as a historical cartilage issue.
But most crucially he let his bowling do the talking in the Adelaide Ovals nets later in the day.
The English allrounder bowled for exactly an hour, cautious early under the watchful eye of coach Chris Silverwood before getting to full pace.
The only person who would not have enjoyed Stokes' spell was captain Joe Root, who was hit in the helmet and arm by the quick.
The captain, who was unhurt, would also have been pleased by the fact Jimmy Anderson also got through 40 minutes after being rested from the first Test.
Stokes' fitness is key for England's balance as it affects whether they play under-fire spinner Jack Leach.
Leach did not play during the English home summer when Stokes was unavailable, offering a fourth-seamer option and the same would be likely if England do not trust his knee.
There is every chance Leach could still be dropped, but with Stokes, Anderson and Stuart Broad all fit England at least have options.
Stokes wrote in his column for English newspaper The Mirror on Tuesday he had no issues managing the knee problem.
"People will have seen me rubbing my knee from time to time when I was in the field, but rest assured I'm fine," he wrote.
"It is an old injury that flares up every now and again, but I know how to manage it.
"It just gets a little bit uncomfortable every now and again in and around my cartilage.
"But it just looks worse than it is by the way I try and get off it as soon as I can."
It comes with England under pressure headed into the day-night Test, where Australia are unbeaten with the pink ball.
England have also not come back to win the Ashes in Australia after losing the first Test since 1954-55, highlighting the task ahead of them to turn things around.
"We have a good track record of bouncing back pretty well after a defeat early in a series," Stokes wrote.
"We came back against South Africa to win, we came back against the West Indies last year to win, so we've done it before and we can do it again."