Ben Stokes willing to ‘run through a brick wall' to face India in Test decider
Making. Things. Happen.
Ben Stokes gets one to jag back, stay low and KL Rahul is gone for 90.
🇮🇳 1️⃣8️⃣8️⃣-3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/PbPw1CEFn7
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 27, 2025
However, Stokes, the leading wicket-taker of the series with 17 at an average of 25.2, is optimistic of taking to the field at the Kia Oval on Thursday as England try to seal a 3-1 series triumph.
'Hopefully I will be alright going for the last one,' he said. 'I am doing everything possible to be alright. It's been a big five or six weeks, I'll always try to give everything I possibly can.
'It's just a workload sort of thing. We got a fair amount of overs and everything starts creeping up on you. I'll keep trying, keep going and as I say to all the bowlers: pain is just an emotion.
'I'll always try to run through a brick wall for the team. Bowling, being out on the field it is tough work. I'm feeling pretty sore. I've physically been better.
'I don't want to eat my words but the likelihood I won't play (at the Oval) is very unlikely.'
Stokes was magnificent at Emirates Old Trafford, where he became the fourth Englishman to record a five-wicket haul and a century in the same match – after Tony Greig, Lord Botham and Gus Atkinson.
India slipped to nought for two when they had yet to eat into a 311-run first-innings deficit but KL Rahul and Shubman Gill led the tourists into calmer waters with a 188-run partnership.
Stokes, having not bowled on Saturday, struck to have Rahul lbw for 90 during an eight-over burst on Sunday morning and hopes were high when Jofra Archer prised out Gill for 103 on the stroke of lunch.
However, Joe Root's drop of Ravindra Jadeja from the next ball proved costly as the India all-rounder and fellow left-hander Washington Sundar batted out the rest of the day, making twin unbeaten hundreds.
'When the reality (hits) with where the game drifted towards, there is obviously going to be that comedown,' Stokes said.
'You can get the vibe that we've thrown everything and not been able to get over the line, there is that sense of disappointment and almost heartbreak – me being a captain, I was as well.'
Ben Stokes and England were frustrated by India (Martin Rickett/PA)
However, Stokes is well aware they cannot dwell on this result for too long as he added: 'I've got to be that upbeat person as well.'
There were farcical scenes as the game drifted towards a conclusion in Manchester, where Sundar and Jadeja refused to shake hands with 15 overs to go – the earliest a draw could be agreed.
The pair had batted out the final two sessions to ensure India would avoid defeat but on 80 and 89 respectively, Sundar and Jadeja carried on to rubber-stamp their fine performances with hundreds.
England's frustration was palpable and Stokes brought on Harry Brook for some buffet bowling to speed things along, with Jadeja getting to three figures first before Sundar followed for his first Test ton.
'I did have to tell Harry Brook 'please don't do anything stupid – I can't have you pulling a side',' Stokes said. 'I wasn't going to risk any of my proper bowling options.
England ended up bowling Harry Brook (Martin Rickett/PA)
'They played incredibly well. I don't think there would have been much more satisfaction in walking off 100 not out, getting your team off in a tricky situation, than walking off at 80 or 90 not out.'
'Scoring 10 more runs isn't going to change the fact you've got your team out of a very, very tricky situation and saved your team from a series defeat.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
India pair Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja dent England's hopes of victory
Ben Stokes defied a problem with his right shoulder to dismiss KL Rahul for 90 and end a 188-run stand with Shubman Gill, who was out for 103 on the stroke of lunch in the fourth Rothesay Test. Jadeja was dropped by Joe Root off his first ball and he and fellow all-rounder Sundar settled India's nerves, taking them to tea on 322 for four – wiping out a 311-run first-innings deficit to lead by 11. The situation at tea ☕️ India lead by 1️⃣1️⃣ still require 6️⃣ wickets. Big final session needed 💪 🇮🇳 3️⃣2️⃣2️⃣-4️⃣ — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 27, 2025 Sundar, promoted to number five with Rishabh Pant injured, ended the session on 57 not out with Jadeja unbeaten on 53, leaving England facing the prospect of just a second draw in the Bazball era – both at Emirates Old Trafford following the 2023 Ashes washout. Aside from the prize scalp of Gill, England could not cash in on the second new ball, taken 40 minutes before lunch, with Liam Dawson offering containment but unable to exploit the foot holes on a fifth-day pitch. Indeed, Stokes offered the most threat, especially at the start of the day. There were doubts about whether he would even bowl after struggling with cramp and soreness in his left leg in Manchester. More fitness concerns became apparent after Liam Dawson started the day, with Stokes rubbing his shoulder following his first over then straightening his arm frequently from then on. Stokes might have had Gill on 81 but a drive burst through a leaping Ollie Pope's hands at cover to give Gill his second reprieve, having been put down on 46 by Dawson on Saturday. But variable bounce was increasingly in play and Rahul was struck on the knee roll by a delivery that jagged back and kept low, with an already-celebrating Stokes not even turning back to see umpire Rod Tucker's finger being raised. Gill wore a painful blow to his bruised right hand and helmet after another delivery from Stokes leapt off a length, but the India captain soldiered on to a ninth ton in 36 Tests. Alongside Sundar, Gill took India into safer waters and the deficit into double digits after England had taken the new ball without much reward. However, Gill then fiddled outside off to Archer a few minutes before lunch and feathered through a simple catch to Jamie Smith. Jadeja also edged his first ball, but Root could not cling on to a head-high chance at first slip. Jofra Archer gets the BIG wicket of Shubman Gill 👊 India four down! 🇮🇳 2️⃣2️⃣3️⃣-4️⃣ — England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 27, 2025 Archer, usually excellent to left-handers, was too straight in the afternoon session, perhaps targeting the pads of Sundar and Jadeja, both of whom were all too happy to clip off their legs. Dawson was tidy but ineffective to the left-handers, prompting Root to be brought on after just 20 overs with the new ball, with the Yorkshireman getting one to rip past Sundar's outside edge. Stokes delivered a short burst before tea but leaked 15 runs from his third over and hooked himself as a short-ball ploy backfired, thumped twice to the boundary by Sundar and once by Jadeja as the pair brought up their fifties and took India into the lead. There was a possibility of a run out after Jadeja had pushed into the covers and set off, but the incoming Archer fell over while scooping up the ball and the chance was gone.
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Sarina Wiegman to keep on dancing after ‘chaotic and ridiculous' Euro 2025 win
Substitute Chloe Kelly, whose extra-time winner at Wembley secured the Lionesses their first major trophy three summers ago, was once again the hero, coolly converting in the shootout with the World Cup holders following a 1-1 extra-time stalemate. Wiegman has now led teams – first the Netherlands, now England – to the trophy at the last three European Championships, though none, admitted the Dutchwoman, was more 'chaotic' and 'ridiculous' as this. "England are crowned queens of European football again!" 😍 Re-live it all! 👇🍿 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025 'I'm very happy,' said Wiegman. 'I actually can't believe it myself. It was like, 'how can it happen?' but it happened. I am so incredibly proud of the team and the staff.' Wiegman was spotted busting a move after Kelly once again rose to the highest occasion, and plans to keep letting loose – perhaps to the chagrin of her phone, which twice reminded the England boss during her post-match press conference that she was due a workout. 'I'll do some more dancing,' said Wiegman. 'And I'll have a drink, but I don't think I will drink as much as the players.' Though the Lionesses insisted they had moved on, Sunday's triumph also avenged the 2023 World Cup final, where England were beaten by Spain 1-0 in Sydney in their first global showpiece final. Spain were first-time finalists in this competition but the favourites, and came one step closer to the title when Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey nodded home a 25th-minute opener. But Kelly teed up Russo for a header of her own and 57th-minute equaliser, while two spectacular saves by Hannah Hampton in the shootout opened the door for Kelly to write more history as the Lionesses became the first senior English football team to lift a major trophy on foreign soil. England's Chloe Kelly celebrates with the trophy (Nick Potts/PA) 'I must admit that this is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played,' Wiegman added. 'Every time we could come back, in the quarter-final and the semi-final and the final, we came from behind. Of course we have players that have talents, and the togetherness of this team is really, really incredible, but also the belief that we can come back. 'The players say we can win by any means, and we just never, ever give up.' England's title defence was hanging by a thread following their 2-1 opening defeat to France, but group stage victories over the Netherlands then Wales kept their title defence alive. Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang scored late in their Sweden quarter-final, ultimately setting up a chaotic, error-strewn shootout, won by Bronze with England's seventh try. It took Kelly's extra-time winner from off the bench in their Italy semi-final to book their place in the Spain showdown – after 19-year-old standout Michelle Agyemang had netted another incredible equaliser. England manager Sarina Wiegman collects her medal (Peter Byrne/PA) Even before her heroics in Basel, Kelly, at these Euros, had come in with the joint-most chances created (eight) and most successful crosses (10) of any substitute in a single tournament since Opta started analysing major women's tournaments in 2011. And while Wiegman conceded there had been moments in this campaign – and particularly the Sweden and Italy matches – Sunday's comeback was never in doubt. Asked if there was a moment her belief had wavered, Wiegman replied: 'To be honest, tonight, I didn't.'
Times
4 hours ago
- Times
Ben Stokes: I wouldn't have stayed out to chase personal milestones
Ben Stokes said he would have accepted a draw from the opposition rather than pursue personal milestones, as India did in a farcical end to the fourth Test. England offered to shake hands with 15 overs remaining on the final day at Old Trafford after Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, on 89 and 80 respectively, had saved India from defeat. The batsmen refused and faced five overs from Harry Brook and Joe Root, waiting for Jadeja to bring up his fifth Test hundred and Washington his first. Stokes did not want to risk any frontline bowlers with the fifth Test starting on Thursday at the Oval, and so turned to Brook, the only genuine unused option, who dropped as low as 35mph in serving up free hits for Jadeja. The England fielders barely acknowledged the landmarks, which Jadeja and Washington celebrated heartily, and suggested they would lack meaning.
