Published Feb 20, 2024, 10:30 am IST
England captain Ben Stokes is likely to resume bowling fully in the final two Tests of the ongoing series in India. However, Stokes hasn’t bowled since last June and he had surgery on his left knee at the end of November that has seen his participation in the series as a batter only.
However, the allrounder did start bowling in the nets ahead of the second Test in Vizag and also got to bowling at near full tilt in practice at Rajkot as well. Even though head coach Brendon McCullum backed Stokes, he did warn that he may have to step in and stop the him from bowling if he gets into longer spells.
“Well, it’s good that he’s actually getting into a state where he thinks he might bowl,” McCullum said. “But Ben is clever; he’s really clever as well. He won’t bowl unless he thinks he’s legitimately able to bowl. The problem would be if he starts getting into a spell and then he can’t get out of the spell. So we’ll see what unfolds. If he does get that bit between his teeth, then let’s see where the danger lies there and try and pull him away from it. But it’s a good sign.”
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With England are 2-1 in the series, Ben Stokes added that he felt ‘pretty good’ while bowling at full tilt in the nets as well. If he decides to play as an allrounder, England’s combination could see a change and it will receive a boost considering their present situation as well.
“I like to jump the gun a little bit but things are feeling really good,” Ben Stokes told TNT sports after the third Test. “I’m not saying yes, I’m not saying no,” he said when he was asked about the possibility of him bowling in the last two Tests.
“Me being me, I’m always very optimistic about most things. That will be a more detailed chat with the medical team about what workload I have done to pass me off as not being a massive risk. I managed to bowl at 100% in one of the warm-up days here which made me feel pretty good. I felt like I could have bowled in the game but that would have been stupid,” Ben Stokes concluded.
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