IND vs ENG 2024: Ben Stokes Hints at Return to Bowling Duties in Final Two Tests, Says ‘Managed To Bowl 100% in Warm Ups’

England captain Ben Stokes has hinted he may make a return to bowling duties for the remainder of the series in India as the 32-year-old said “he managed to bowl at 100 percent in one of the warm-up days.”

Stokes hasn’t bowled during the first three Tests on the sub-continent as he continues to recover from an operation on his knee last year and his absence as a bowler has been felt as India have won two Tests on the trot to hold a 2-1 series lead in the five-match contest.

The consecutive losses have also seen England slip to eighth on the World Test Championship standings and England need to salvage something from their final two matches in India if they are to stay in contention of reaching next year’s final at Lord’s.

Being able to use Stokes with the ball would allow England to select a more balanced XI for the crucial fourth Test that commences on Friday and the experienced skipper was bullish about his prospects when quizzed on the idea following his team’s 434-run loss to India during the third Test in Rajkot, ICC reports.

“I’m not saying yes, I’m not saying no. Me being me, I’m always very optimistic about most things. That will be a more detailed chat with the medical team about what workload I have done to pass me off as not being a massive risk.

“I managed to bowl at 100 percent in one of the warm-up days here which made me feel pretty good. I felt like I could have bowled in the game but that would have been stupid,” said Stokes.

England coach Brendon McCullum said it was a positive sign that Stokes is considering making a return to the bowling crease, but he doesn’t expect his captain to put his hand up for lengthy spells unless thinks he’s legitimately able to bowl.