England Test skipper Ben Stokes has opened the door to resuming bowling competitively for the first time since last summer’s Ashes in the last two Tests of their ongoing series against India in Ranchi and Dharamshala respectively. The fourth Test begins on Friday.
Still on the path to recovery after a knee surgery in 2023, Stokes has not bowled since the second Ashes Test in June 2023). He played in the ICC World Cup 2023 purely as a specialist batter, after which he underwent surgery.
Ahead of the Rajkot Test, the 32-year-old had said he “pinky promised” his physiotherapist he wouldn’t be bowling in the ongoing series.
However, the seam-bowling all-rounder has stated that he might return to the bowling crease in the fourth Test against India in Ranchi.
“I’m not saying yes, I’m not saying no. Me being me, I’m always very optimistic about most things,” Stokes responded when asked about the possibility of him bowling during the remainder of the Test series.
“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.”
Stokes has been bowling in the nets but he hasn’t turned up with the ball in the three Tests.
“I managed to bowl at 100 percent 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,” added Stokes.
England is 1-2 down in the series and if Stokes becomes available with the ball, it will be a big boost for England as he has the happy knack of taking wickets at crucial junctures of the game. He possesses the ability to reverse the ball. Stokes will add a dimension to the relatively inexperienced bowling attack of England.