Latest news with #SeriesDecider
The Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Ben Stokes willing to ‘run through a brick wall' to face India in Test decider
Ben Stokes insisted 'pain is just an emotion' as he revealed he will do his utmost to be available in an all-round capacity for England's Rothesay Test series decider against India. The England captain struggled with cramp in his left leg and general soreness, while more fitness issues emerged on the last day of the drawn fourth Test as he was clearly discomforted by his upper right arm. Stokes revealed he had hurt his bicep tendon, with his injury niggles the result of a taxing workload that has seen him already send down 140 overs in four Tests – the most he has ever bowled in a series. 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.' 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. '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.'
Khaleej Times
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
India face Bumrah dilemma as England search for top order stability
India must make a crucial call on the fitness of star pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah for the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. England can clinch the series with a victory in Manchester but they have top order questions to resolve, while Ben Stokes and Ravindra Jadeja will be looking to repeat their third Test exploits. Trailing 2-1 in the five-match series after their painful 22-run loss at Lord's, India cannot afford another defeat if they are to win a Test series in England for the first time since 2007. That perilous position has increased the pressure to make the right decision on the fitness of Bumrah. India coach Gautam Gambhir made it clear at the start of the series that Bumrah would only be available for three matches due to a nagging back injury. Bumrah, 31, played in the first and third Tests against England, with India losing both matches, and missed the second game, which the tourists won. If India opt to use the world's top ranked Test bowler in Manchester, it would likely rule him out of a potential series decider in the fifth Test. "We know we have got him for one of the last two Tests. It's pretty obvious that the series is on the line now in Manchester so there will be a leaning towards playing him," Gambhir's assistant Ryan ten Doeschate said. The need to play Bumrah at Old Trafford has been heightened by injuries to India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and seamer Arshdeep Singh. England's brittle top order England may be within touching distance of winning the series, but questions about their fragile top order remain unsolved. Polarising opener Zak Crawley could only muster scores of 18 and 22 at Lord's. Ollie Pope, filling the number three spot, reached 44 in the first innings but perished for just four in the second, while Crawley's opening partner Ben Duckett was dismissed for 23 and 12. England must decide whether to keep faith with Crawley, whose international career has been filled with highs and lows. Scores of 267 against Pakistan and 189 against Australia showcased Crawley's ability, but the 27-year-old's frustrating habit of surrendering his wicket cheaply has led to calls for a change at the top of the line-up. However, England have backed Crawley and Duckett to the hilt, and captain Stokes said: "They complement each other. Left-hand, right-hand. "One is a giant, one is not. It is very hard for bowlers to settle in." Jadeja v Stokes After England's Stokes rose to the occasion at Lord's and Jadeja nearly delivered a match-winning innings for India, the all-rounders will carry hefty expectations in Manchester. Stokes led by example in England's third Test triumph, scoring 77 runs in two innings, taking five wickets and producing a vital run-out of Rishabh Pant. Significantly, Stokes was able to push his body through 44 overs, including spells of 9.2 and 10 overs on the dramatic final day. Now 34, that was the most he has bowled in over six years after being plagued by injuries. "It was an incredible effort to be able to do that, but that's just how he's built, I guess. He's just desperate to be the man and make things happen," England batsman Joe Root said. Age was no barrier for the 36-year-old Jadeja either as he kept India in the Lord's Test until the last moments. Now an elder statesman of the team after the Test retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Jadeja's gritty 61 not out from 181 balls took the tourists within a whisker of their 193-run target. He also scored 72 in the first innings and made 89 and 69 in the second Test at Edgbaston. "I always felt he has the ability to take pressure. With so much of experience, he normally comes with something that the team needs in any challenging conditions. Really, really valuable to the team," India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said.
