BEN STOKES and Stuart Broad may not be team-mates any more.
But that has not stopped the pair dishing out X-rated banter at each other.
Broad, 37, retired from cricket in incredible scenes at the end of last summer’s Ashes series.
He bowed out by hitting a six on his final ball with the bat and took a wicket with his final delivery – his 604th in Test cricket.
However, he is still keen to give his former captain plenty of stick on social media.
And Stokes, 32, is just as willing to give it back as good as he gets.
Broad shared a video on X of Stokes taking an impressive 4-23 in ten overs to help Durham thrash Somerset by an innings and six runs inside two days.
The former bowler wrote: “Hi Ben. Love you & you have a heart of a lion.
“Please stop bowling 10 overs spells with a dodgy knee…”
That got plenty of support from followers.
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One said: “Yes, been saying this since forever.”
Another wrote: “He will end up hurting himself just before important Test series!!”
But Stokes saw the message and replied: “F*** off Stuart what dodgy knee,” followed by a winking emoji.
And that tweet went down a storm with his 1.4million followers.
Broad himself replied with three laughing emojis.
Another typed: “If that’s a dodgy knee, can I get one please?”
Test
West Indies
First Test – July 10-14
Second Test – July 18-22
Third Test – July 26-30
Sri Lanka
First Test – August 21-25
Second Test – August 29 – September 2
Third Test – September 6-10
ODI
Australia – September 19, 21, 24, 27, 19
T20
Pakistan – May 22, 25, 28, 30
Australia – September 11, 13, 15
T20 World Cup
Scotland – June 4
Australia – June 8
Oman – June 13
Namibia – June 15
And a final user commented: “I was at Durham yesterday. Didn’t look like a dodgy knee to me.
“Sitting side on it was excellent fast and hostile bowling which bamboozled the Somerset batters. I think some of them lost the will to live.”
Stokes also contributed a staggering 4-54 in the first innings as he continues his recovery from left knee surgery last November.
He will be desperate to be fully fit and able to bowl in England’s two three-match home Test series this summer against West Indies and Sri Lanka.
Broad, meanwhile, has been able to help out at home with wife Mollie King – as well as playing plenty of golf.
He also appeared on Sky Sports as a TV pundit covering his beloved Nottingham Forest.
