Stokes ready to push through pain barrier against India
All-rounder Stokes took five wickets, scored 77 runs and ran out Rishabh Pant across two innings of relentless effort during a 22-run win over India in the third Test at Lord's.
Victory gave England a 2-1 lead in a five-match series, with fast-medium paceman Stokes bowling 44 overs in total, including gruelling spells on the decisive final day.
"I'm not going to lie, I cannot wait to just lie on my bed for four days," said Stokes after the match.
The 34-year-old has suffered two severe hamstring injuries in the past 12 months but the skipper, speaking to reporters on the eve of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, said he was well-rested.
"I felt like I was in a long-distance relationship with my family because I hardly saw them (despite) being at home. If the situation requires it again then I'll do what I need to do."
The quality of cricket on show from both England and India has drawn comparison with England's celebrated 2005 Ashes triumph.
"So far, the series has been great to play in and I presume it's been pretty good to watch," said Stokes.
"The 2005 Ashes series was great to watch and I think we've gone all five days in all three Tests so far so it just proves that the quality of cricket has been outstanding.
"Two teams going toe-to-toe and not very much separating us at the moment. It's been good to be a part of."
England's Liam Dawson will be playing his first Test in eight years after the left-arm spinner was recalled following Shoaib Bashir's series-ending finger injury at Lord's.
Dawson admitted last year that Test cricket was "completely off the radar" for him but, having returned to T20 international action against the West Indies in June, he is now poised to make just his fourth appearance in a Test match.
"I've known Daws for a long time," said Stokes. "I know the cricketer he is, but what does go under the radar is his competitiveness."
Stokes said the way Dawson had slotted back into England's white-ball set-up was an encouraging sign ahead of his Test return.
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eNCA
2 days ago
- eNCA
Stokes ready to push through pain barrier against India
England captain Ben Stokes says he is ready to put his injury-ravaged body on the line again if it helps his side seal a Test series win over India. All-rounder Stokes took five wickets, scored 77 runs and ran out Rishabh Pant across two innings of relentless effort during a 22-run win over India in the third Test at Lord's. Victory gave England a 2-1 lead in a five-match series, with fast-medium paceman Stokes bowling 44 overs in total, including gruelling spells on the decisive final day. "I'm not going to lie, I cannot wait to just lie on my bed for four days," said Stokes after the match. The 34-year-old has suffered two severe hamstring injuries in the past 12 months but the skipper, speaking to reporters on the eve of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, said he was well-rested. "I felt like I was in a long-distance relationship with my family because I hardly saw them (despite) being at home. If the situation requires it again then I'll do what I need to do." The quality of cricket on show from both England and India has drawn comparison with England's celebrated 2005 Ashes triumph. "So far, the series has been great to play in and I presume it's been pretty good to watch," said Stokes. "The 2005 Ashes series was great to watch and I think we've gone all five days in all three Tests so far so it just proves that the quality of cricket has been outstanding. "Two teams going toe-to-toe and not very much separating us at the moment. It's been good to be a part of." England's Liam Dawson will be playing his first Test in eight years after the left-arm spinner was recalled following Shoaib Bashir's series-ending finger injury at Lord's. Dawson admitted last year that Test cricket was "completely off the radar" for him but, having returned to T20 international action against the West Indies in June, he is now poised to make just his fourth appearance in a Test match. "I've known Daws for a long time," said Stokes. "I know the cricketer he is, but what does go under the radar is his competitiveness." Stokes said the way Dawson had slotted back into England's white-ball set-up was an encouraging sign ahead of his Test return.
eNCA
10-07-2025
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Root's 99 not out keeps India at bay in third Test
LONDON - Joe Root's unbeaten 99 checked India's progress on Thursday's opening day of the third Test against England at Lord's. England were 251-4 at stumps, with Root coming in when they were faltering at 44-2 after paceman Nitish Kumar Reddy struck twice in his first over to remove openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley. But not for the first time in his 156 Test-career, the 34-year-old Root bailed England out of trouble. England captain Ben Stokes, who won the toss at a sun-drenched Lord's, was 39 not out after helping Root, his predecessor as skipper, add an unbroken 79 for the fifth wicket. Root also shared a grinding partnership of 109 in 35 overs with Ollie Pope, who made 44 after almost being out for a golden duck. Much of the pre-match talk had focused on the return of Jasprit Bumrah, the world's top-ranked Test bowler, after he was rested for India's 336-run thrashing of England at Edgbaston last week that levelled the five-match series at 1-1. But it was Reddy, the fourth seamer deployed by India captain Shubman Gill on Thursday, who struck twice in four balls on the way to figures of 2-46 in 14 overs. With his third ball, the 22-year-old had left-hander Duckett (23) well caught down the legside by diving wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant off a gloved pull. Next ball, the often skittish Pope almost fell for a duck when he threw his bat at an outswinger, with Gill just unable to hold a tough chance low to his right in the gully. But with the last ball of the over, Reddy produced a superb full-length delivery that swung late and straightened off the pitch before taking Crawley's outside edge to give Pant a simple catch as the Kent batsman fell for 18. - Root masterclass - Pope, following his first-ball reprieve, had several more nervy moments, chasing a wide delivery from Bumrah he could have left alone before a loose shot off Reddy fell just short of third slip. Root, second behind England team-mate Harry Brook in the Test batting rankings, was far more assured as he went to fifty with a glance through fine leg off Reddy -- his seventh four in 102 balls faced. England were 153-2 at tea with Root unbeaten on 54 and Pope 44 not out. But the very first ball after the interval saw Pope drive loosely at left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, with reserve wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, on the field after Pant suffered a finger injury in the second session, holding an excellent shoulder-high catch off a fast-travelling edge. New batsman Brook only managed 11 before he was bowled between bat and pad by Bumrah after failing to get forward to a nip-back ball. Bumrah ended the day with a miserly return of 1-35 in 18 overs. England were now 172-4 as Stokes, without a Test hundred since an Ashes century against Australia at Lord's two years ago, walked out to bat. AFP | Ben STANSALL The left-hander had made 27 when Reddy had a tight lbw review turned down on umpire's call. He then called for the England physio after suffering what appeared to be a groin injury. Root, however, continued to bat, an on-driven four off Reddy taking the former England captain to 80. But with play held up by a swarm of flying ants, and Stokes unable to get off strike as he defended Akash Deep's final two balls of the day, Root was left one run shy of what would be his 37th Test hundred and a record-extending eighth century at Lord's. By Julian Guyer
IOL News
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Cricket SA must strike while Test iron is hot to maximise Proteas' success
CHAMPIONS Temba Bavuma lifts the ICC Test mace at Lord's after the Proteas beat Australia. Photo: AFP Image: AFP Sharp Turn Column by Zaahier Adams 'It's a good job Test cricket is played over five days, isn't it?' These were the words of England captain Ben Stokes after his team beat India after a thrilling run-chase at Headingley this week. Stokes had even more reason to smile after he asked India to bat on Day 1, and then watched how the visitors raced to 430/3. In another era, Stokes' decision may have placed him alongside Nasser 'Insane' Hussain's decision to insert Australia on the opening day of the Ashes back in 2002. But the red-ball game has been revolutionised over the last few years. While England's 'Bazball' tactics have undoubtedly brought a refreshing element to a sport that has been 'on its last legs' for almost three decades, the expansion of T20 cricket has also played its part. Detractors may complain that batters no longer have the defensive techniques to combat the new ball. However, the brass-necked approach shown by batters in chasing down totals in the fourth innings has added an extraordinary element to Test cricket. Among the last 10 highest run-chasers in Test history, three have been achieved in the last five years. Equally, there have been further record fourth-innings chases at various individual Test grounds, with the Proteas' recent World Test Championship final run-chase being the second highest ever achieved at Lord's. The Proteas' success has equally sent reverberations through South Africa and the globe, with their victory hailed as triumph for the so-called 'smaller nations' sitting outside the Big Three of England, Australia and India. Temba Bavuma and Shukri Conrad's team's success has caused a nation to fall back in love with a format of the game that was seen to be taking a backward step after a few years in the doldrums. Just like England under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum have tried to keep Test cricket relevant in an ever-changing landscape, the Proteas have now done their bit and more to keep the five-day game alive and kicking. And they have done it in the best possible way, with no funky game-plans. They've just kept on winning – eight Test matches in a row now – with the World Test Championship final success over Australia at Lord's being the ultimate prize. Cricket SA have been handed a golden opportunity to maximise the Proteas' success, and while the Test world champions won't unfortunately be seen in action at home until next year, the old-age saying of 'strike while the iron is hot' has never been more relevant. The Proteas team may claim that it doesn't boast any 'superstars', but in Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen and skipper Bavuma, they have players who should be seen on billboards all down the N1 and my Kellogg's box every time I have my morning cereal. Test cricket is alive and well. Long may it continue…
