Ben Stokes bowled at nets, every chance he will bowl in Ranchi Test vs India: Ollie Pope

England vice-captain Ollie Pope said that there is “every chance” that captain Ben Stokes will bowl in the fourth Test against India, provided he does not experience significant soreness following his practice sessions. Stokes has sparked considerable interest and speculation regarding his potential return to bowling duties.

After enduring a challenging period marked by back-to-back defeats against India, Stokes, alongside head coach Brendon McCullum, has been contemplating an early comeback to bowling, despite still recovering from knee surgery. This decision comes after England’s strategy, famously dubbed “Bazball” for its aggressive approach, faced significant setbacks, including a massive 434-run defeat in the third Test, marking one of England’s most substantial losses since 1934.

Stokes, who has been sidelined from competitive bowling since the second Ashes Test in June of the prior year due to a persistent knee injury, has approached his return cautiously. Making a “pinky promise” to his physiotherapist not to bowl in the ongoing series, he signalled a measured approach to his recovery.

Nonetheless, Stokes has been bowling in the nets to his teammates and his statements indicate a mounting confidence in his bowling abilities. Stokes trained vigorously and voiced optimism regarding his readiness to bowl, albeit recognizing that jumping back into competitive action prematurely would be ill-advised.

“He will see how he pulls up tomorrow,” Pope told BBC Sport.

“If he’s not too sore, that’s a positive sign. He didn’t want to put himself under too much pressure early by saying he’s going to be bowling, so he’s played it day by day with how his knee is feeling,” said Pope.

“I think he’s been impressed by how his knee has been going. He’s had a good bowl against our batters. We know what he’s like, he’s got that competitive edge. There’s every chance he’ll bowl, but he’s not confirmed it yet.”

Stokes’s return to bowling could significantly bolster England’s bowling attack, offering much-needed versatility and depth. His all-rounder abilities are well-documented, with a distinguished career as a left-handed middle-order batsman and right-arm fast bowler. Achieving the milestone of 6,000 runs and 200 wickets in Test cricket is within reach for Stokes, further underscoring the potential impact of his bowling return on the team’s performance and his legacy.

Pope called the Ranchi pitch as “interesting”, with one side of the surface already shattered two days before the Test. “It does look slightly different on one side of the wicket to the other,” Pope added. “The cracks in the wicket aren’t just cracks, there are separate bits of ground that could open up with a lot of sun on them. The ball could deviate more off them if they open up like we expect them to.”