England’s cricket captain, Ben Stokes, expressed fatigue but confirmed he remains fit to bowl despite not taking to the pitch on day three of the ongoing Ashes Test. Stokes’ cavalcade of past injuries is well documented, as is his penchant for being reckless with his body. By then his fitness was in the spotlight after he opted not to bowl during a decisive last group match against England.
In the fourth quarter of the game, Stokes fell hard on the turf while attempting to make a tackle. This physical impact took him out for most of the field and kept him sidelined through the day on Friday. Despite this setback, he demonstrated his resilience by spending over five hours at the crease across two days, scoring 83 runs in England’s first innings.
Yet Stokes himself did not bowl on day four as England toiled through an arduous 66 overs on the third day. Combined with his decision to avoid bowling, it poses big questions about his stamina. This decision comes after a particularly tough time at the wicket and has raised doubts over his preparedness to serve the team in a full capacity.
Jeetan Patel, England’s spin coach, provided insight into Stokes’ current state. He also conceded that Stokes had a reputation as an all-or-nothing player.
“All I know is he goes at 100%,” Patel stated. “If he thinks he can’t do it at 100%, I don’t think he’s going to do it. That’s probably where he’s at.”
The captain’s dedication compels him to overexert himself. Consequentially, he has dealt with a slew of career-altering and -derailing injuries in his wake. Stokes did not appear for the fifth Test at The Oval due to a shoulder injury. Indeed, he has never fully featured as an active member of any of England’s last four series.
He endured a similar stiff test for the duration of his 198-ball knock. Australian bowler Mitchell Starc knocked him out, to be fair, and he had pretty bad cramping as well. Patel acknowledged Stokes’ condition, stating,
“From what I understand, he’s pretty fit to bowl. I think he’s just pretty knackered and he’s taken a lot out of himself to get through to this point in the game.”
With a hot and tired squad, Stokes’ leadership will once again be key as England look to come back from a dangerous position in the series. Patel highlighted the need to prioritize resilience going forward.
“I still believe there’s an opportunity for us,” Patel said. “It won’t be easy; we’re going to need something magical. It’s about time we saw something magical from us.”
With England wanting to find some form and urgency as the Ashes Test series wears on, Stokes is always the key man there. He gets off on the intensity of the moment. His all-around wizardry will be needed too, as Indiana tries to recover from a dismal opening month.
Patel hinted at the need for bold tactics as they face what could be a defining moment in the series:
“Three games in, we’ve thrown some but taken a lot. It’s about time, now we’re backed into a corner, to throw some haymakers back.”
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