England captain Ben Stokes has hinted at a possible return to bowling for the final Tests in India, hinting that his rehabilitation from a knee surgery is progressing well.
The 32-year-old said that he bowled “100 percent” during warm-up sessions, fuelling hopes of reinforcing England’s lineup for upcoming critical matches.
Stokes, who hasn’t bowled in the first three Tests of the series due to his ongoing rehabilitation, admitted the impact of his absence on England’s performance, despite India leading the five-match series 2-1.
England’s two defeats have also dropped them to seventh place in the World Test Championship standings, emphasising the importance of a series turnaround to keep their dreams of a final berth at Lord’s alive next year.
While cautious about his return, Stokes expressed optimism about his prospects, stating, “I managed to bowl at 100 percent in one of the warm-up days here which made me feel pretty good.”
However, he emphasised the need of having a thorough discussion with the medical staff in order to analyse his workload and reduce potential risks.
England coach Brendon McCullum mirrored Stokes’ thoughts, embracing the all-rounder’s probable return to the bowling crease while emphasising the importance of prudence.
“Ben won’t bowl unless he thinks he’s legitimately able to bowl,” McCullum stated, underscoring Stokes’ strategic approach to his recovery.
