England captain Ben Stokes has issued a strong message ahead of the fourth Test in Manchester, saying that his team won’t shy away from returning fire if India bring aggression to the field.
The ongoing series has been marked by intense verbal battles, with players like Stokes, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, and Jofra Archer often seen engaging in animated exchanges.
After fiery exchanges in the previous matches, particularly at Lord’s, Stokes made it clear that England will stand their ground.
“I don’t think either team would want things to heat up unnecessarily but during such a long series there will be moments like this,” Stokes said in the press-conference. “When Zak (Crawley) and Ben (Duckett) had to face them, it was tough but we were lucky we had to bowl last. It’s not something we would start purposely but if they come at us, we won’t back off.”
Meanwhile, England have made one change to their playing XI with Liam Dawson returning to the Test setup after a long absence, replacing the injured Shoaib Bashir. Stokes praised Dawson’s domestic form and experience, saying, “Liam Dawson has been performing really well for Hampshire. Got recalled in white ball team as well. Got great experience and that could make things easier for him. Very good cricketer. When you are coming back after such a long time, you want to showcase your skills regardless of age. If he keeps on performing, he’ll be always in discussion.”
Despite underwhelming returns so far, veteran all-rounder Chris Woakes retains the faith of the team management. “We had a big break after Lords. Good opportunity for everyone to rest up. (Chris) Woakes has great record here. We won 2 of the 3 tests with similar bowling line up. Woakes is a very important player, brings control with the ball, handy with the bat so we didn’t think any other changes were required,” said the England skipper.
England were recently penalised for a slow over-rate at Lord’s, losing World Test Championship points and 10% of their match fees. While accepting the sanction, Stokes criticised the current rules, especially for pace-heavy teams.
“I’m not signing that form happily,” he said with a grin. “It’s a tough task. Fast bowlers are working hard, and in countries like England and New Zealand, pacers bowl the majority of the overs. It’s different in Asia, where spinners dominate. Balls go to the boundary more often now, that eats up time too. If you prioritise over-rates over quality cricket, fans will lose interest. This needs a serious rethink.”
The fourth Test at Old Trafford begins on July 23 and could prove decisive, with England leading the five-match series 2-1.
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