logo
Stokes' long bowling spells v India a great sign for England, says Root

Stokes' long bowling spells v India a great sign for England, says Root

Reuters17-07-2025
July 17 (Reuters) - Ben Stokes' lengthy bowling spells against India in the third test shows the England all-rounder has full confidence in his body after coming through injury layoffs, batter Joe Root said.
The England captain bowled 44 overs at Lord's, the most of any bowler in the match, and took five wickets to guide the hosts to a 22-run victory and 2-1 lead in the five-match series. He contributed 44 and 33 runs and was named player of the match.
The 34-year-old underwent a successful operation on a torn hamstring in December before undergoing a physical fitness programme during which he lost 10 kg.
"He's just desperate to be the man and make things happen," former skipper Root told BBC Sport.
"Incredible effort to be able to do that. I was just panicking that he wasn't going to make it through the game after a couple of bad injuries but he clearly trusts his body now.
"It's a great sign for us moving forward. I mean it really is isn't it, because that's back to his best."
The fourth test begins on July 23 at Old Trafford.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Joe Root not focused on record chase after latest run landmark
Joe Root not focused on record chase after latest run landmark

The Independent

time14 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Joe Root not focused on record chase after latest run landmark

Joe Root insisted reeling in Sachin Tendulkar is not a top priority after the former England captain moved up to second on the list of all-time Test run-scorers. Root overtook three greats of the game in one fell swoop with a magnificent 150 against India in the fourth Rothesay Test on Friday, leapfrogging Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid. Only Tendulkar, with a mountainous 15,921 runs, is ahead of Root, who has closed to within 2,512 with Ponting among those insisting the Little Master might not be out of reach for the Yorkshireman. While Root, who has amassed 21 centuries since turning 30 four years ago, is aware tongues will be wagging about whether he can catch Tendulkar, he is adamant it is not the be-all and end-all for him. 'I can't avoid it – they're everywhere,' Root told Sky Sports. 'It is easy to get caught up in this stuff but at the end of the day, you're playing against India in one of the biggest series there is. 'It's not about you, it's about winning the game and getting your team in a position where you can follow through on that. You're not doing your job if you're concentrating on yourself. 'When you look at the names there on that list, they are all people that, as a kid, growing up, that's who I would try and be in the garden, on the street, on the driveway, at my local club. 'Even just to be mentioned in the (same) sentence as these guys is a bit of a pinch-yourself moment.' Root's form since the start of 2021 has been breathtaking, amassing 5,586 runs at an average of 56.42, and the 34-year-old admitted some introspection during Covid was a major reason behind his uptick. 'I actually went away during that period and asked can I get some footage off Sky and just look at modes of dismissal (to see) if there were any trends,' added Root, who on Friday was stumped for only the second time in his 286 Test innings. 'One thing that I've done within that period is actually try and look at the game slightly differently. 'At the start of my career, a lot of it was based on my technique. Whereas in this second phase of things, it's been more about managing risk and thinking how can I eliminate as many modes of dismissal as possible with the highest output? 'It's very easy to get caught up, get too emotional, either get too hard on yourself or feel too sorry for yourself. You've got to see it for what it is, be very honest about it, and then just try and put that into practice.'

Arsenal ready to complete quick deal for Eberechi Eze after Viktor Gyokeres saga with special £60m bid to Crystal Palace
Arsenal ready to complete quick deal for Eberechi Eze after Viktor Gyokeres saga with special £60m bid to Crystal Palace

The Sun

time15 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Arsenal ready to complete quick deal for Eberechi Eze after Viktor Gyokeres saga with special £60m bid to Crystal Palace

ARSENAL are reportedly ready to swoop for Eberechi Eze once Viktor Gyokeres has been announced. The Swedish striker is set to be unveiled as the newest star to arrive at the Emirates this summer. 3 3 The Gunners agreed a £63.5million deal with Sporting Lisbon to finally sign the prolific striker to bolster Mikel Arteta 's frontline. But Arsenal are not expected to cease their transfer dealings this summer for the former Coventry City and Brighton forward. The Independent have claimed that the Crystal Palace star is favouring a move to North London this summer. It is suggested that there is a confidence that he will make the move across London. And Arsenal are keen to sign the attacking midfielder for less than his £68m release clause, which the Eagles are demanding be met. The report states that the Gunners will offer £60m but on "amenable" terms for Palace. It is also claimed that there is a good relationship between the clubs and they would both be "flexible". Palace have previously signed the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding and Marouane Chamakh. Arsenal has been hoping to split the deal into £20m instalments, and they could also include Reiss Nelson in negotiations. Eze, 27, has established himself as one of the most exciting players in the Premier League since his arrival at Selhurst Park. Arsenal's 2025/26 lightning bolt away kit 'leaked' as fans say 'this strip was literally made for Eze' Last season, he scored 14 goals and assisted 11 in 43 appearances in all competitions. He also scored Palace's FA Cup-winning goal against Manchester City back in May. During the Eagles' run to the final, Eze scored in all but one game as he netted against Stockport, Fulham and Aston Villa. Eze has also established himself as a regular member of the England squad and has earned 11 caps. He joined Palace back in 2020 in a £17m switch from Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers. Meanwhile, Arteta has already added Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera to his squad this summer.

Lauren James gives England fitness boost ahead of Euro 2025 final
Lauren James gives England fitness boost ahead of Euro 2025 final

Times

time15 minutes ago

  • Times

Lauren James gives England fitness boost ahead of Euro 2025 final

England received a fitness boost before the Euro 2025 final as Lauren James was able to train on Saturday despite concerns over an ankle injury. The forward, who has started all five games of England's campaign, was forced off at half-time in Tuesday's semi-final against Italy and was seen on the bench with ice on her right ankle. However, that she was able to train the day before the final against Spain in Basel indicates she is fit enough to play a role — be that as a starter or an impact substitute. Sarina Wiegman, the England head coach, had said on Friday that James's status for Sunday was uncertain. 'She's still recovering,' Wiegman said. 'She's doing things on the pitch and we have two more days so we're going to give her time. I don't know yet [if she'll be ready], but that's what we're going for — 23 players available for on Sunday.' Although James has not been at her mesmeric best at this Euros, she remains England's most gifted attacker and having her available for the final would be crucial. Her brilliant showing in the group stage against the Netherlands proved that she can deliver a world-class performance out of nowhere. Equally, Wiegman must weigh up whether James can start. If she cannot, then Chloe Kelly's chances of coming into the XI receive a big boost. Kelly has helped to rescue England as a substitute in their comebacks against Sweden in the quarter-finals and Italy in the semis, leading to calls for her to play from the beginning. The winger's direct running and probing crossing may be most effective against fatigued defenders, as shown by her two goal-creating deliveries against Sweden. Kelly also relishes coming on to save England, as she displayed by calmly scoring the 119th-minute winner against Italy on the rebound after her penalty was saved. If Kelly is preserved as an impact substitute, then Beth Mead could play in place of James. Mead started England's tournament opener against France but, after England suffered a chastening 2-1 defeat, dropped to the bench for the next game and has been unable to regain her place. Nevertheless, she offers subtle passing and clever movement that Kelly cannot quite replicate. As well as battling to play in the final, James is trying to overcome fears that her fitness is unreliable. Since last summer the 23-year-old has missed significant time with separate calf, foot and hamstring problems, and has now suffered another injury just before one of the biggest games of her career. The hamstring issue had made her a significant doubt for the Euros, and she only returned to action on June 29. All other 22 players trained on Saturday here in Zurich. Leah Williamson, who was on crutches after the quarter-final because of an ankle injury, played 85 minutes of the semi-final and is set to captain England on Sunday. England v Spain

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store