Ben Stokes’ Bowling Return: A Boost for England’s Woes

Ben Stokes’ potential return to bowling in the final two Tests of the India-England series has sparked hope for England, who are trailing 2-1. Stokes, recovering from a left knee surgery, hasn’t bowled since last June but showed promising signs in the nets ahead of the second Test in Vizag and during practice in Rajkot.

Head coach Brendon McCullum expressed cautious optimism about Stokes’ progress, highlighting the all-rounder’s cleverness in assessing his readiness to bowl. McCullum acknowledged the risk of Stokes overexerting himself and emphasized the need to monitor his workload closely to avoid any setbacks.

Stokes, while feeling ‘pretty good’ about his bowling in the nets, remained non-committal about his return to bowling in the Tests. He emphasized the importance of a detailed discussion with the medical team to ensure he is not a ‘massive risk’ if he does decide to bowl.

If Stokes does return as an all-rounder, it would provide a significant boost to England’s bowling attack, which has struggled in the absence of a genuine pace all-rounder. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball could prove crucial in England’s bid to level the series in the remaining Tests.