 "Ben Stokes keeps suspense over his availability as bowler in IND vs ENG 4th Test: 'It's maybe or maybe not'")
Ben Stokes has refused to confirm whether he will be bowling or not in the fourth India-England Test which will take place at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi from 23 February. Stokes last bowled in the second Ashes Test in June and has been playing just as a pure batter due to his knee injury. In November, Stokes underwent for knee surgery after he faced chronic tendonitis in his left knee.
The original plan was for the England captain not to bowl on tour of India, but after back-to-back defats and going down 2-1 in the five-match series, Stokes resumed bowling in the nets ahead of the Ranchi. In the pre-match presser, he, however, said the final decision on his bowling has not been taken.
“I think it’s maybe or maybe not,” Stokes said upon being asked if he will bowl at Ranchi.
Stokes added that Ranchi pitch will suit the spinners, but added that 20-year-old Shoaib Bashir will be impactful in the fourth Test due to the height advantage that he has.
Bashir and Ollie Robinson are two changes that England have made for the Ranchi Test in place of Mark Wood and Rehan Ahmed.
“There is going to be assistance for spin but Bashir’s extra bounce because of his height is going to help on this pitch.”
Earlier, Stokes while speaking to overseas media revealed that he was surprised by the nature of the Ranchi pitch which is “very dark and crumbly”.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“I’ve never seen something like that before. I have got no idea so I don’t know what could happen. If you looked down one side of opposite ends it just looked different to what I am used to seeing, especially out in India. It looked green and grassy up in the changing rooms, but then you go out there it looked different: very dark and crumbly and quite a few cracks in it,” Stokes said to BBC Sport.
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