Ben Stokes and Company had started their five-match test series against India with a phenomenal win over the host by 28 runs in Hyderabad. However, after the first victory, England’s team was dented with a couple of big defeats in the series and is trailing by 2-1 in a five-match test series.
After England’s infamous loss at Rajkot by 434 runs,
England’s skipper Ben Stokes could think of making an early return in the bowling department for England. But England’s coach, Brendon McCullum, suggested that they would not force Stokes to bowl without getting fully fit.
Stokes was last seen bowling for England in the second Test of the Ashes series in June last year.
Even when England’s all-rounder Stokes was asked about his bowling, he said that he had promised his physiotherapist that he would not be bowling in the ongoing test series.
But when asked if he would be fulfilling his all-rounder’s role after the 434-run defeat in the third Test in Rajkot, Stokes said, “I’m not saying yes, I’m not saying no.”.
It would be a huge boost for England if the all-rounder starts bowling again. For them, the visitors had to play just one seamer in the opening two test matches of the series, then they had to drop Shoaib Bashir to play both Anderson and Mark Wood in tendom for the third test match.
England’s Bazball team has blown hot and cold in India as they were handed a defeat of 434 runs in the third test, their biggest since 1934.
However, England’s coach, Brendon McCullum, said that although his team is hurt by the defeat, they will continue to play the same brand of cricket throughout.
Team India will again play England in Ranchi on February 23 for the fourth test match of the series.
