'Managed to bowl 100% in warm ups': Stokes hints at return to bowling duties in final two Tests

England’s captain Ben Stokes hinted at a possible return to bowling duties for the remaining India series, following his absence as a bowler in the first three Tests due to knee surgery last year. Stokes expressed optimism about his prospects, stating that he managed to bowl at 100 percent during warm-ups.

The absence of Stokes as a bowler has been felt, as India has won two Tests in a row, leading the series 2-1. England’s slip to eighth place on the World Test Championship standings calls for a salvage in the final two matches in India to stay in contention for next year’s final at Lord’s.

Stokes’s return to bowling could allow England to select a more balanced XI for the crucial fourth Test. Coach Brendon McCullum mentioned that it’s a positive sign of Stokes considering returning to the bowling crease, but a decision will not be made until the team monitors the conditions in Ranchi.

“We’ve got two really good options on the sideline as well with Ollie Robinson and Gus Atkinson. So, we’ve got a really good squad to pick from. We just need to work out when we get there what conditions we’re going to be confronted with and see the health of the army, and then make a decision on what we go with,” said McCullum.

Stokes’s bowling availability and the final XI’s composition hinge on the conditions in Ranchi. The decision will be made after they assess the situation, and McCullum mentioned that they are comfortable with the current squad and won’t be adding to it.