England captain Ben Stokes was seen participating in bowling drills in nets, reportedly delivering overs for around 20 minutes during a practice session ahead of fourth Test against India at the JSCA stadium in Ranchi. In a press conference following the third Test against India, Stokes expressed his willingness to return to bowling in the upcoming Test match, mentioning his quick recovery and improved condition post-knee injury.
Stokes, since undergoing knee surgery conducted by Dr. Andy Williams — a renowned surgeon who has operated on England players such as Andrew Flintoff and Chris Woakes — had stopped engaging in any sort of bowling activities. The surgery took place in November 2023, immediately after the ODI World Cup 2023 in India. He had returned from ODI retirement specifically to compete in the World Cup, where England, the defending champions, ultimately secured the seventh position. His physician had advised against bowling in the near future to avoid additional strain on his knees. However, it now appears that he is close to resuming bowling to assist his team in finding their rhythm in the current series.
Here's the video of Stokes doing bowling drills in Ranchi
Ben Stokes dedicates himself to intense practice sessions
Ben Stokes, after stating in a Rajkot press conference that he could bowl with full intensity during practice, made an ambiguous remark about his participation as a bowler in the fourth Test. His statement left some uncertainty, yet a recent video released around 9 AM suggests that Stokes might indeed take up bowling duties in Ranchi.
"I had my first full-intensity bowling session in the nets. I tend to be a bit premature in my excitement. My entire body needs to adapt to bowling again. So, I'm not outright denying the possibility, but I'm also not confirming it," Stokes had conveyed to the media in Rajkot.
England Faces Crucial Test in Ranchi
Ben Stokes' England team is in a critical situation, trailing 2-1 in the 5-match Test series against India. The team, which started strong with a 28-run victory in the first Test at Hyderabad, has since struggled to replicate their form.
The initial win was largely due to Ollie Pope's standout performance, a feat England has found hard to match in the subsequent Tests.
Now is the time for veteran players like Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow to step up and contribute significantly from the middle order, as their absence of runs has significantly impacted England's performance.
The challenge has been compounded by the exceptional performances from Indian players such as Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, and Ravindra Jadeja, highlighting the need for England to find an answer to India's batting prowess.
The focus now shifts to the fourth Test at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium starting February 23, where England would look to script a comeback to keep the series alive.
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