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The 2025 Ashes series kicks off in Perth with England chasing a historic first win Down Under since 2010-11, while Australia manages injuries to key pacers and debuts two Indigenous players.

Ashes 2025: England aim to break Australia drought in Perth

The 2025 Ashes series kicks off in Perth with England chasing a historic first win Down Under since 2010-11, while Australia manages injuries to key pacers and debuts two Indigenous players.

The build-up to the Ashes series starting Friday began at the end of July 2023 following one of the more acrimonious test cricket series between England and Australia.&nbsp;
Ben Stokes and his England lineup won that test at The Oval in South London but it wasn't enough to reclaim the Ashes from the Aussies, who won the first two tests and drew the fourth in a five-match series to retain the old urn.
Cue to Perth Stadium, Day 1 of a possible 25 spanning seven weeks and five cities. There are some big questions in play.
Can an aging, understrength Australia continue an unbeaten run in home Ashes tests that dates to the 2010-11 series? Can Stokes inspire an end to that long drought for England? Can Joe Root, the world's No. 1-ranked test batter, finally post an Ashes century in Australia?
The English
Stokes knows the record: 13 losses, two draws and no wins in England's last 15 tests Down Under. He's thinking more about the 2010-11 squad that beat the Australians 3-1.
&ldquo;I've come here absolutely desperate to get home on that plane in January as one of the lucky few captains from England who have come here and been successful,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;A lot has been spoken of about the history and how it has gone for England &mdash; this is our chance to create our own.&rdquo;
In a bid to break the drought, England is likely to start a pair of express pace bowlers in conditions expected to suit them. Jofra Archer is primed to do well in Australia and 35-year-old Mark Wood recovered from a minor hamstring strain to be including in the 12-man match squad for the first test.
&ldquo;He's flying,&rdquo; Stokes said of Wood, who took 17 wickets in the last Ashes series in Australia. &ldquo;He's had all his injury troubles and all that kind of stuff ... but he's been bowling for a long, long time. &ldquo;He has always been someone who can just hit the ground running in a game. And he's bowling rapid, which is good.&rdquo;
The Aussies
Australia captain Pat Cummins and fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood will be missing the first test because of injuries, leaving Australia's attack without half of its frontline bowlers. The remaining half &mdash; left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc and offspinner Nathan Lyon &mdash; are confident that the team can win on what is expected to be a fast, bouncy pitch in Perth.
Brendan Doggett is set to make his test debut alongside fellow fast bowler Scott Boland, making it the first time the men's test XI will contain two players with Australian Indigenous heritage. &ldquo;Good to see the depth in the squad,&rdquo; Starc said. &ldquo;We know what Scotty Boland can do, ... (and) Doggie's' coming off a hot streak at the moment.&rdquo;
Cameron Green's fitness to bowl means he'll fill the allrounder spot and Australia can give opening batter Jake Weatherald a test debut at the age of 31. The flow-on means Marnus Labuschagne will return at No. 3, with stand-in skipper Steve Smith at No. 4 and allrounder Beau Webster has been cut from the lineup.
&ldquo;Beau came into international cricket and lit it up immediately, so I think it's a really tough one on him," Smith said. "He's the one that misses out unfortunately. &ldquo;But I think with Marnus, when he's batting at his best at No. 3, it makes us a very, very good cricket side."
Smith's role
The 36-year-old Smith will lead Australia for the third time this year and the seventh time since his era as full-time captain ended with the Sandpapergate scandal in 2018. He filled in as skipper the last time England toured Australia in 2021-22, after Cummins was forced to isolate for the Adelaide test during the COVID-19 pandemic.
&ldquo;He's a lot more relaxed as a person all round," Starc said of his longtime teammate. "Even the times that he's captained since, when he's had to fill in for Pat, it's a different approach. &ldquo;He's still that competitive beast, and still wants to be the best, and still will leave no stone unturned. But I think he's finding a few outlets to actually switch off from time to time ... and just not be cricket 100% of the time.&rdquo;
Squads
Australia: Jack Weatherald, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (captain), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland.
England (from): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir.

India captain Shubman Gill was nominated for ICC Player of the Month for July after a record-breaking Test series against England, joined by Wiaan Mulder and Ben Stokes.

Shubman Gill in Contention for ICC Player of the Month

Shubman Gill: ICC Player of the Month Contender

India captain Shubman Gill was nominated for ICC Player of the Month for July after a record-breaking Test series against England, joined by Wiaan Mulder and Ben Stokes.

India captain Shubman Gill was on Wednesday named among the three nominees for ICC&rsquo;s Player of the Month award for July along with South Africa&rsquo;s Wiaan Mulder and England skipper Ben Stokes.
Gill led India remarkably in the recently-concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England as his young side emerged with a hard-fought 2-2 draw, a series in which the 25-year-old rewrote batting records.
Gill scored 754 runs in the series against England with four centuries, including a double ton at 75.40 to break legendary Sunil Gavaskar&rsquo;s record (732) for the highest run tally for an Indian captain in a five-Test series.
Gill&rsquo;s returns are now also the second-best behind Sir Donald Bradman (810 runs) in the all-time list for captains.
&ldquo;Shubman Gill had a sensational month, amassing 567 runs at an impeccable average of 94.50 in three Tests during India&rsquo;s gripping series in England,&rdquo; the ICC wrote on its website.
&ldquo;He played a starring role in India&rsquo;s record-breaking win at Edgbaston, where he scored a monumental 269 in the first innings followed by 161 in the second. His combined 430 runs across the two innings is the second highest tally, next only to Graham Gooch&rsquo;s 456,&rdquo; it added.
The ICC said Gill carried the baton from &ldquo;all-time great&rdquo; Virat Kohli at No.4.
&ldquo;His consistency at No. 4, carrying on the baton from all-time great Virat Kohli, provided stability and flair in equal measure, and combined with his extraordinary captaincy in his debut series,&rdquo; it said.
In his maiden outing as South Africa captain, Mulder struck a mammoth 367 not out against Zimbabwe but declared his team&rsquo;s innings when he could have broken legendary Brian Lara&rsquo;s record for highest individual total of 400 not out against England in 2004.
The ICC said, &ldquo;He scored 531 runs across the two matches at an astonishing average of 265.50, including a composed 147 in the second innings of the first Test." &ldquo;However, his standout act came in the second Test at Bulawayo, where he smashed an unbeaten 367 in his maiden outing as South Africa&rsquo;s Test skipper &mdash; the highest individual score in South African Test history.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Mulder also chipped in with the ball, claiming seven wickets at just 15.28 apiece, including a four-wicket haul in the first Test,&rdquo; it added.
The ICC lauded Stokes for his all-round show against India saying, &ldquo;He scored 251 runs at an average of 50.20 and took 12 wickets at 26.33, delivering in high-pressure situations with both bat and ball."
&ldquo;His leadership proved crucial in maintaining England&rsquo;s intensity and belief in a closely contested series. With ball in hand, he bowled long spells, often breaking key partnerships and turning the tide in England&rsquo;s favour,&rdquo; it added.

R Ashwin criticises Ben Stokes for dismissing injury substitutions after Chris Woakes’ injury, urges empathy and calls for evolving cricket rules.

Ashwin Criticizes Stokes on Injury Substitution Remarks

Ashwin Criticizes Stokes on Injury Rule Views

R Ashwin criticises Ben Stokes for dismissing injury substitutions after Chris Woakes&rsquo; injury, urges empathy and calls for evolving cricket rules.

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has criticised Ben Stokes for his dismissive remarks on injury substitutions, saying the England captain should "think before speaking", as "karma" came back to haunt them when they were left a batter short following Chris Woakes' shoulder niggle in the fifth Test.
India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant had retired hurt on the first day of the drawn fourth Test at Manchester but returned to bat the next day despite scans confirming a fracture in his right foot.
India coach Gautam Gambhir had subsequently called for the introduction of injury replacements in Test cricket, a suggestion that Stokes dismissed, terming it &ldquo;absolutely ridiculous.&rdquo;
However, in the fifth Test at The Oval, England faced a similar situation when Woakes suffered a fractured shoulder but still came out to bat on the final day with England nine wickets down and needing fewer than 20 runs to win.
"I want to talk about another imperfection in this series. There's a Tamil saying that loosely translates to 'Your karma will affect you almost instantly'. What you sow is what you reap,&rdquo; Ashwin said on his YouTube channel &lsquo;Ash Ki Baat&rsquo;.
"After the last Test, there were questions asked about the injury to Pant. Gautam Gambhir said that such injuries need a substitution. And when Stokes was asked about this response, he simply brushed it away, calling it a joke. I am a big fan of Stokes' cricketing abilities and his attitude. But he can think and then reply." Highlighting Woakes&rsquo; determination to continue batting despite his injury, Ashwin added, "He was ready to give his life to win the game for his team, and almost did it too. He had the game awareness to run and give the strike to Atkinson. Hats off to Chris Woakes. Remarkable attitude, and a remarkable way to step out for your team, and put your body on the line." Ashwin also referenced former England captain Michael Vaughan&rsquo;s comments on the need for cricket&rsquo;s rules to evolve.
"Michael Vaughan said this is one area where the game can evolve. Substitutions should be allowed. All I'm saying is: show a little empathy for the other team. Stokes should have considered what it would be like if a player of Rishabh Pant's calibre was in his team and got injured.
"Wouldn't you want a substitution? Wouldn't that be fair? You are free to share your opinion &mdash; but using words like &lsquo;joke&rsquo; and &lsquo;ridiculous&rsquo; isn&rsquo;t respectful. Think before you speak. Karma hits instantly," he added.

With England leading 2-1, a resilient Indian team led by Shubman Gill looks to square the fiercely-contested Test series at The Oval. No Bumrah, but plenty of grit.

India vs England: High-Stakes Test Finale at The Oval

India vs England: Test Series Decider at The Oval

With England leading 2-1, a resilient Indian team led by Shubman Gill looks to square the fiercely-contested Test series at The Oval. No Bumrah, but plenty of grit.

India's prospects of signing off the UK tour with some serious bragging rights brightened by a few notches on the eve of fifth Test with England's talismanic skipper Ben Stokes and pacer Jofra Archer rendered unavailable for the game starting Thursday.
Stokes, the inspirational skipper who pushed the limits of his body while bowling in the last two Tests, was ruled out with a muscle tear on his right shoulder while comeback man Archer was rested after the workload of playing in back-to-back matches.
Pacer Brydon Carse and left-arm spinner Liam Dawson have also been rested.
There are players whose mere presence makes a difference and the England skipper, a world class all-rounder with 304 runs and 17 wickets in the series, is one such character.
What the English team will miss most at The Oval is his inspirational presence when the chips are down and showing the way how it is done.
Stand-in captain Ollie Pope will have his task cut out as the Indian team, even without Jasprit Bumrah, is expected to go for the kill.
The series, played in front of packed crowds, has also been a perfect advert for Test cricket with all four games stretching to the final session on day five.
Not to forget the skirmishes along the way that have spiced it up enough for the fans of the game's traditional format.
From Shubman Gill's tirade against Zak Crawley for "deliberately" wasting time at Lord's to Ravindra Jadeja refusing to call off proceedings on the final day at Old Trafford, things couldn't have gotten hotter before the series entered the final phase in sweltering London.
Gautam Gambhir, who is always up for a scrap, has only intensified it with his altercation with Oval curator Lee Fortis two days before the game.
In this backdrop, expect the series finale to go down to the wire as India under the ever-improving Gill has a chance to land a killer blow on an English team whose bowling attack will undergo a sea-change with no specialist spinner in the playing XI.
Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton, the two Surrey players, who know The Oval track like the back of their palms, will be joining forces with Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue to make it a four-pronged attack.
With Woakes being the only bowler who has remained constant from first to fifth Test, England are giving indications of continuing with their Bazball way, having inducted a specialist heavy duty hitter in Jacob Bethell.
History beckons Gill
In his first series as captain of a team undergoing a major transition, Gill has led from the front and with 722 runs so far, he is only 52 shy off Sunil Gavaskar's record of most runs by an Indian in a single rubber.
He needs another 11 runs to surpass Gavaskar's record of most runs (732) by an Indian captain in a Test series (1978-79 vs West Indies).
The 25-year-old has come of age with four hundreds thus far including a double century and a match-saving 103 in the previous Test at Old Trafford. After low returns in three innings, Gill played the most defining knock of his career in Manchester to enhance his reputation, not just as a batter but also as a captain.
Having played a massive role in earning a famous draw from an almost hopeless situation, Gill and his team go into the match with momentum on their side but gaps to fill.
With 511 runs, K L Rahul has been a model of consistency at the top of the order but more will be expected from Yashasvi Jaiswal and number three Sai Sudharsan on what is generally a decent batting surface.
Team Combination 
In injured Rishabh Pant's absence, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to round up the top six following unbeaten hundreds, which denied England a victory in the fourth Test.
The Indian management firmly believes in having a batting option till number eight and that could possibly lead to Kuldeep Yadav being once again left out of the XI despite constant calls for his inclusion over the course of a long and gruelling series.
Dhruv Jurel will keep the wickets and could bat at seven in Pant's absence and Shardul Thakur might retain his place at eight despite not exactly enjoying the confidence of his skipper.
Going by batting coach Sitanshu Kotak's comments ahead of the fifth Test, India will retain the template that has been followed thus far.
"Overall, if you play with 6 bowlers, then some bowlers will under-bowl. So, if that 6th bowler is an all-rounder, then you know that he will contribute in batting and in bowling as well," Kotak said.
On the bowling front, Akash Deep is expected to replace Jasprit Bumrah in the XI with the latter advised to not push his body.
Mohammed Siraj will be the leader of the attack and the third pacer's spot will go to either Prasidh Krishna or Arshdeep Singh, who has patiently been waiting for his Test debut.
Surrey amassed more than 800 runs in the last County game played here but it remains to be seen how the pitch behaves during the high-stakes clash.
Teams:&nbsp;
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue.
India (from): Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj, Arshdeep Singh, N Jagadeesan (WK).
Match Starts: 3:30 pm IST.

England captain Ben Stokes and pacer Jofra Archer will miss the fifth Test against India due to injury and workload. Ollie Pope to lead in Stokes’ absence as England make three changes.

England vs India: Stokes and Archer Out for Final Test at The Oval

No Stokes, Archer; Ollie Pope to lead England in fifth Test against India

England captain Ben Stokes and pacer Jofra Archer will miss the fifth Test against India due to injury and workload. Ollie Pope to lead in Stokes&rsquo; absence as England make three changes.

Injured skipper Ben Stokes and lead pacer Jofra Archer will not be part of the fifth and final Test against India, starting at The Oval from Thursday, as England made three changes to their playing XI for the series-deciding game.
The hosts lead the series 2-1 after four intensely fought Test matches that has also had its fair share of controversies.
Ollie Pope will lead the side in Stokes' absence.
Stokes, who has led the team from the front and has claimed 17 wickets while scoring some vital runs with bat, will miss out on the game at The Oval due to a shoulder injury, while Archer has been rested after having made his return to Test cricket following a long gap of four years.
Pacer Brydon Carse will also miss the final Test, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a press release on Wednesday.
"Captain Ben Stokes is unavailable due to a right shoulder injury. Also missing out are spinner Liam Dawson and pace bowlers Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse.
"England have included Jacob Bethell, who will bat at No.6. Surrey bowlers Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton come into the side, along with Nottinghamshire quick Josh Tongue," the ECB said.
England playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue.&nbsp;

England's skipper Ben Stokes, despite a bicep injury, plans to play the final Test against India. Focused on refreshing the fatigued bowling lineup, Stokes prioritizes team success.

Stokes Set for Fifth Test Against India Despite Injury

England captain Ben Stokes is set for the fifth Test against India despite a bicep injury. Focusing on bowling lineup refreshment and team success, Stokes remains a key player as the series finale approaches.

Ben Stokes Hints Return for Final India Test

Despite a bicep tendon injury, England's Ben Stokes intends to play the final Test against India. He aims to refresh the bowling lineup due to their fatigue and focuses on team success over personal accolades.
&nbsp;

England's cricket captain Ben Stokes has signaled his intention to participate in the upcoming fifth and final Test against India at The Oval, despite nursing a bicep tendon injury.
In a recent statement, Stokes mentioned that while he doesn't want to reverse his words, the possibility of him missing the game is slim. "Pain is just an emotion," Stokes remarked, asserting his commitment to pushing limits for the team&rsquo;s sake. However, he acknowledged the necessity of refreshing their weary bowling lineup for the decisive Test.
The fourth Test at Old Trafford concluded in a draw following significant performances from India's Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar, who collectively ensured the visitors dominated the final day's play.
Despite his evident discomfort during his 11-over spell on Sunday, Stokes confirmed the pain in his right bicep tendon had not intensified. He believes it will improve before the final Test at The Oval.
The possibility of incorporating "fresh legs" in the lineup was also on Stokes' agenda after their bowlers were pushed through 143 overs in India's second innings.
"Given our lengthy time on the field and the cumulative overs bowled, the bowling contingent is both sore and fatigued," Stokes said. "Assessments will be made during the rest period before strategizing for the game's final fixture begins in earnest."
England's fast bowling unit has seen consistent participation from Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes, who have featured in all four Tests. Jofra Archer has played two consecutive Tests after a lengthy absence. Stokes implied that future decisions might involve evaluating alternatives such as Gus Atkinson, Sam Cook, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue to rejuvenate their attack.
Stokes, having recently earned his second consecutive Player of the Match award and 12th overall, ranks just behind fellow cricketer Joe Root's 13 accolades. Still, Stokes was measured about his individual performance, lamenting its failure to deliver an England victory this time, in contrast to their success at Lord's. He expressed a preference for meaningful contributions that propel the team towards triumph. "My focus has never been solely on statistics. I feel I've been steadily improving and last week&rsquo;s efforts at Lord's felt more satisfying in context," he reflected.
&nbsp;
(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
&nbsp;

England captain Ben Stokes analyzes the 336-run test defeat against India at Edgbaston, highlighting pivotal match moments and strategy shifts needed for upcoming games.

Ben Stokes Points Out '2 Moments' That Cost England 2nd Test

Ben Stokes evaluates England's 336-run defeat against India, highlighting match dynamics, strengths, and future strategies at Edgbaston.

England Analyzes Test Defeat

Ben Stokes reflects on England's defeat, highlighting key match moments and strategies for improvement.

After suffering a huge 336-run defeat to India in the second Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at Edgbaston, England skipper Ben Stokes said as the game got deeper, the pitch began to suit the visitors more than the hosts.
Stokes was speaking in the post-match presentation ceremony about his decision to bowl first, a question to which he avoided giving a direct answer. "It was a tough one. Having a team 200-5, you feel you're in a commanding position. As the game got deeper, it turned into a wicket that suited India more than us," he said.
He then pointed towards two situations from where England lost the match, as they conceded a huge 180-run lead to India and allowed their batters, including skipper Shubman Gill, to make gigantic scores. "Two moments - having them 200-5 and not being able to burst them open after a good start with the ball. And being 80-5. It was going to be tough to scrape it back from there. You look back at 200-5. If we were able to burst them open quicker, things could have been different."
Asked if he's concerned about England's bowlers struggling to fire collectively, Stokes stated, "I wouldn't say it's a concern. We ran in, we tried everything, we changed plans, but when a team's on top of you - and India are a class team - it's hard to change the momentum. Shubman Gill had an unbelievable performance."
England's batting collapses while facing the new ball were also a point of concern, and Stokes said, "It's always tough. When you spend time out in the field, your body and mind are tired. It's a difficult position to find yourself in, batting at the end of the day. We're going to be in that position again and it's up to us to get the best out of the position."
The hosts had a positive in the form of wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, who hit an unbeaten 184 and 88 in both innings. "Jamie's been incredible since he came into the team. He's been exceptional with the bat.
He goes under the radar with his wicketkeeping." "It just shows that he stuck to his guns and played his natural game and the way him and Harry wrestled the momentum back towards us was a very special part of the game to watch."
Stokes signed off by saying England will soon decide who would play in the third game at Lord's, starting on July 10. "There's a couple of days to take note of that. We'll reassess where everything's at."

Ben Stokes dismisses Bumrah concerns, praises Indian spirit and Rishabh Pant's play. England confident post-Leeds with Stokes regaining form.

Stokes Praises Indian Team Despite Bumrah Concerns

Ben Stokes casts aside worries about Jasprit Bumrah's sporadic presence, emphasizing respect for India's spirited play. Stokes shows strong form in Leeds, while he praises Rishabh Pant for his impactful performance.

Ben Stokes dismisses concerns over Bumrah&rsquo;s availability, hailing India&rsquo;s spirit and Pant's brilliance. Despite India's bowling inconsistencies, Stokes maintains respect for the opposition.

England captain Ben Stokes on Tuesday dismissed the chatter surrounding Jasprit Bumrah's availability for only three Tests out of five as "India's problem" and said he is expecting the "passionate" visitors to fight hard in the second Test irrespective of the team composition.
Bumrah was by far the best Indian bowler on show at Leeds, where the Shubman Gill-led side lost from a position of strength. The likes of Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur were not consistent enough with their lengths to test the England batters.
India have not decided which three Tests Bumrah will be a part of over the course of the English summer. He has played one, leaving him to feature in two out of the next four games.
However, Stokes and Co are not bothered about Bumrah's availability and are focusing on extending their series lead.
"That's India's problem. They will deal with it. I am captain of England," that is how Stokes handled the query on Bumrah.
Having said that, Stokes gave due respect to the opposition.
"Good team. They always fight hard, come hard. Very passionate team," he said when asked about the trailing Indian team.
"It's pretty clear that there's always pressure on shoulders of international sportsmen, but playing for India, especially in cricket, there's probably a bit more on any other nation. So, yeah, a very proud nation. Don't take anything for granted from last week. We start at 0-0 again." England had chased down 371 on day five at Leeds to complete their second highest successful chase in Test cricket. The highest chase, 378, too came against India here at Edgbaston three years ago.
Fan of Rishabh Pant in all formats ====================== Stokes and Pant had a moment at Headingley as the latter charged down the ground against the England captain early in his innings. Stokes reacted to Pant's ploy with a hearty laugh.
What was all that about? "Even though he's in opposition, I absolutely love watching Rishabh play cricket. I love the way he takes it on in all formats of the game. He's got a bit of stickiness in his time, but that type of talent, when you let that type of talent be free, that's what can happen in the last week," said Stokes.
Pant became the first Indian wicket-keeper batter to smash two hundreds in a Test match, drawing praise from the world cricket fraternity.
"Credit to him, two 100s in the game. We know we're going to get our chances with the way that Rishabh plays. So, yeah, it's one of them. On a different day, it could have looked a little bit different. But, yeah, a very dangerous player," said Stokes Pleased with his bowling rhythm ====================== The 34-year-old Stokes was the best England pacer on show at Leeds despite not playing a lot of cricket in the past six months due to injury. He looks fitter than ever and that reflected his probing spells in the series opener.
How is the ageing body holding up? "I feel better now than I did on Thursday and Friday (laughs). Everyone was very tired in that week. It was a big week, we were on the field and bowled for another five days, so yeah, big week for everyone. I used the three days after that game to offer absolutely nothing to the world.
"I was a shadow of myself, but it goes to show how much a five-day Test match takes out of you. I was pretty tired, but I'm all over that now and ready to go tomorrow." Asked if he is back to his best, he added: "I did everything possible to not worry about anything outside of what we normally worry about. But coming out of that game, feeling good in all of my spells, rhythm-wise, being able to back up spells throughout the day.
"But I managed to maintain my pace, which was one of the things I wanted to concentrate on."

England wins at Headingley thanks to strategic bowling and Duckett-Crawley partnership, marking a pivotal victory under Stokes' leadership.

Dismissing Indian tail twice was key, Said Ben Stokes

At Headingley, England clinched a win over India, pivotal due to strategic bowling and Duckett and Crawley's 188-run stand, showcasing Stokes' effective leadership.

England secures a thrilling victory over India at Headingley. Strategically dismantling India's lower order, England chased a record 371, aided by Duckett and Crawley's stellar partnership.

Notwithstanding the top-order heroics, England captain Ben Stokes has credited his bowlers' ruthless dismantling of India&rsquo;s lower-order, twice in the match, as a "pivotal factor" in their five-wicket win at Headingley.
While openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley earned praise for their 188-run stand in a record fourth-innings chase of 371, Stokes stressed that the match had swung much earlier when England&rsquo;s bowlers prevented India from posting a total that might have been unchaseable.
"It was obviously a very good wicket for batting on, the high scores have shown that,&rdquo; Stokes said at the post-match media interaction.
"But some other pivotal moments in the game, obviously there will be people who get the headlines here, but the way in which we were able to knock the Indian tail over very quickly on two occasions was also a massive reason to why we were able to restrict them to a score that we definitely felt comfortable to be able to chase...
"...we didn't allow it to get above 450-500, which India could easily have done." I think as well as skill, there's been a huge contribution of our attitude and commitment to what we needed to do every single day and every single session," he said.
India appeared in complete control through large passages of the match, headlined by five individual centuries across both innings.
But a sudden collapse saw them lose their last six wickets for 41 runs, folding for 471 in the first innings. The pattern repeated itself in the second innings with the last six wickets falling for 34 runs.
"Chasing 370 (371) like we were, you always want to get off to a good start. The least amount of wickets that you lose early on is obviously crucial, but the way he (Duckett) went about it with Zak and then played the game at the top of that order for us was huge in particular," said Stokes.
"The way that Zak played as well was huge. They complement each other so, so well. Left hand, right hand, one's a giant, one's not. So it's very hard for the bowlers to settle in when they both get going. I'm sure you can ask the opposition.
"It can be a nightmare when they're in for a long period of time. Ducky's got the 149, but I think that 70 (65) as well was so, so important." Duckett&rsquo;s dominance against Ravindra Jadeja on the final day, especially his fearless reverse sweeps from the rough, caught the eye of many including Stokes.
"I actually spoke to him when we came off for that tea break, or rain break, whichever one it was. He's one of the best in the world at doing reverse sweeps and he's a fantastic player of spin, in particular on really tricky surfaces," said the skipper.
Stokes said he sought Duckett's advice to see his options against spin.
"I just had a little word with him about what he thought I could potentially look at to give myself a better chance. When you're in there, you feel like you're either getting forward or getting back and trying to manipulate on the leg side.
"Just going in with a clear game and reverse sweeps was something I went out there with. Yeah, it's a difficult condition, but again, just going back to being clear and confident in what I needed to do to try and knock those men (close-in fielders) off." This chase marked the sixth time under the Stokes-Brendon McCullum leadership that England had hauled in targets of 250 or more in the fourth innings.
Stokes attributed the team&rsquo;s consistency in such high-pressure pursuits to a shared philosophy of keeping things &ldquo;simple and calm.&rdquo; "When you're chasing down totals like that, how you are in the dressing room is actually very important. Keeping the sort of calm, relaxed vibe as much as we can throughout the dressing room is so important to sort of the mindset of how someone is to go out there when you're out there in the middle with the pressures of that situation in particular.
"It was pretty simple yesterday. It was if we bat the overs that is left in this game, we will win this game just because of how quick this ground is at scoring.
"I don't know what I've read, but it's probably been over four an over (scoring rate) anyway without any team really doing anything... barring Rishabh (Pant). It's just a very, very quick scoring ground." On the debatable decision to bowl first, he added: "The wicket here on day one looked like there was a bit of grass on top of it. There was a bit of moisture underneath it.
"We backed ourselves to win that toss and bowl first, and try and strike a couple of early poles. But the opposition is allowed to play well."

England's Ben Stokes believes India's cricket team poses a strong challenge despite key player absences. He recognizes India's deep talent pool and highlights threat from Jasprit Bumrah. Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes are key to England's strategy in the upcoming Test series.

Ben Stokes says India still a threat

England's Ben Stokes dismisses concerns about India's weakened lineup, emphasizing their vast talent pool. Despite Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R Ashwin's absences, Stokes acknowledges threats such as Jasprit Bumrah, Ollie Pope's key role, and Chris Woakes leading England's attack.

England's Ben Stokes insists India's team remains strong despite key absences. He focuses on India's talent pool and Jasprit Bumrah's threat. Ollie Pope stays at No. 3, while Chris Woakes leads England's bowling. Series against India starts Friday.

England skipper Ben Stokes on Thursday said they don't think the absence of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin makes India any lesser side as its "ginormous" talent pool is enough to fill the void. An under-transition India is set to take on Bazball-powered England when the first of the five Tests for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy gets underway here on Friday.
The match will be the first assignment for the Shubman-Gill led side since Test retirements of Kohli, Rohit and Ashwin.
"There's been a lot said about no Rohit, no Virat and no Ashwin, that doesn't mean that we think it's going to be any easier than what it ever is against India. The pool of talent that Indian cricket has is just ginormous," Stokes told the media during the pre-match press conference. "Although Virat, Rohit and Ashwin have done amazing things for their country on the field, that doesn't mean that whoever comes in to replace those individuals are going to be any less hard to bowl at or bat against, just because of how big the pool of talent is in India.
"We've spent a lot of time out at the IPL, so I know that there's a lot of it. Obviously, three massive names, three people who have done wonderful things for their country, but it is not going to be any easier for us because of those three big names out there," Stokes added.
Stokes acknowledged Jasprit Bumrah will be a threat to the English batting line-up but added that his side won't be focused entirely on handling the Indian ace.
"Bumrah leading their attack, he's a fantastic bowler but there (are) 11 players on the team, and it takes a team to win a game of cricket," he said when asked if the focus of the fans will be on Bumrah given Kohli and Rohit are not a part of the touring party.
"But we know Bumrah is an amazing bowler all around the world. His record shows that, wherever he goes, he does well. We know Bumrah is going to be a threat, but we know that every other bowler that India has is also going to be a threat.
"Focusing on one individual over another isn't what we're going to be doing, but obviously, you pay respect to your opposition, and Jasprit Bumrah certainly is a fantastic bowler," he added.
Stokes said it was not tough for him to pick Ollie Pope for No. 3 spot over Jacob Bethell, given the England vice-captain scored 171 in his last Test.
"It would be remarkable to choose someone else if his last knock wasn't 170. That's pretty much all I need to say on that," he said.
"Scoring 170 definitely doesn't do anyone any harm. But I said this when I spoke about before the Zimbabwe Test, having him at No. 3 since I've been captain over a three-year period, averaging over 40s, speaks for itself," Stokes added.
Stokes termed comeback all-rounder Chris Woakes as the "leader" of the England attack and highlighted that they haven't lost a Test with the latter in the side.
"Since me and Baz (head coach Brendon McCullum) have been captain and coach, I don't think we've actually lost a game with Woaksey in the team," he said.
"That just proves how much of a valuable cricketer he is to any team that he turns out for. (With) him being the leader of the attack, he's going to thrive off that responsibility. He's a quality cricketer, the relentlessness that he has with the ball, whether that be new ball or old ball, and then having his ability with a back down on breaks, obviously, that's important."

"Opting out of the IPL and the World Cup will hopefully be a sacrifice that allows me to be the all-rounder I want to be for the foreseeable future" - Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes prioritises fitness over T20 World Cup participation for England

England's celebrated all-rounder and Test captain Ben Stokes has opted out of the upcoming T20 World Cup in June.

#BenStokes #England #T20WorldCup

<h2>"Opting out of the IPL and the World Cup will hopefully be a sacrifice that allows me to be the all-rounder I want to be for the foreseeable future" - Ben Stokes</h2>

In a move that underscores his commitment to Test cricket, England's celebrated all-rounder and Test captain Ben Stokes has decided to exclude himself from the upcoming T20 World Cup selection. His decision is rooted in a desire to concentrate on his physical fitness and recalibrate his capabilities as an all-rounder.
Stokes, 32, underwent knee surgery in the off-season and found himself bowling only a minimal number of overs during England's extensive five-Test series tour in India. This experience has propelled him to opt out of both the Indian Premier League, which commenced last month, and the imminent T20 World Cup slated for June in the West Indies and the United States.
England, the reigning champions of the T20 World Cup, had Stokes to thank for the title as he scored his maiden T20I fifty to lead them to victory against Pakistan in the final.&nbsp;
The Three Lions face a bustling schedule post the T20 World Cup in June, including Test series at home against the West Indies and Sri Lanka, followed by a T20 and one-day series against Australia in September. Stokes's strategic withdrawal from the World Cup and the IPL is aimed at ensuring his readiness and peak form for these crucial encounters.
Stokes elaborated on his decision, noting, "Opting out of the IPL and the World Cup will hopefully be a sacrifice that allows me to be the all-rounder I want to be for the foreseeable future." He highlighted the recent tour of India was a reality check on his bowling fitness post-surgery and how he needs to be in his best shape for England's future Tests.
Looking ahead, Stokes is eager to represent Durham in the County Championship as a preparatory step before diving into England's Test summer.

A 4th successive defeat and seventh in 12 Tests was confirmed within just 8 sessions of play, with England on a downward slide after winning 10 of their first 11 under Stokes and Brendon McCullum.

‘Write us off at your own peril’ – Ben Stokes bullish about England prospects | India vs England

Ben Stokes declared "write this team off, write me off at your own peril" after his England side ended their tour of India with an abject defeat inside 3 days in Dharamsala.

A 4th successive defeat and seventh in 12 Tests was confirmed within just 8 sessions of play, with England on a downward slide after winning 10 of their first 11 under Stokes and Brendon McCullum.

Ben Stokes declared "write this team off, write me off at your own peril" after his England side ended their tour of India with an abject defeat inside 3 days in Dharamsala.
'Sometimes taking risks does come to your downfall, but when there is reason as to why you're taking these risks and it doesn't quite work out, then you know, that's fine. It is a tough game cricket, can be, can eat you up, but these tour in particular is always sort of one that can lead you astray or make you a better player. I've done a lot of India tours now, obviously disappointed with my own performance for the team, but, write this team off, write me off at your own peril,' said Stokes.
A fourth successive defeat and seventh in 12 Tests was confirmed within just eight sessions of play, with England on a downward slide after winning 10 of their first 11 under Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
The duo's methods have come under scrutiny during a 4-1 series defeat and Stokes has underperformed, averaging 19.9 with the bat, but the England captain was bullish about his team's future prospects.
"Not just myself but the team are big enough to say we've been completely outplayed in the last four games," Stokes said. "I'm always man enough to say we got beaten by the better team.
"Failure is a great teacher to sports teams. You either let failure and disappointment eat you up and shoot you down or you learn from failure and you make sure you don't lose the enthusiasm of what we do.
"This series shouldn't affect anything we've managed to achieve before this tour. It's the first time, particularly these last four games, that this team has been dominated pretty much the whole time.
"We will use this as inspiration to become a better team and to become better players. I am obviously disappointed with my performance, but write this team off, write me off at your own peril."
While Joe Root made 84 before he was last man out, he lacked a useful foil as England were skittled for 195, needing 259 to make India bat again, as Ravichandran Ashwin banked five for 77 on his 100th Test.
England have reached 400 just once in this series - in their famous triumph in Hyderabad in the opener - and what has been billed as an attack-minded mantra under this leadership has been questioned.
"The media name 'Bazball' - everyone says, 'what is it?' - in my opinion it's wanting to be a better player," Stokes said.
"In the face of defeat and failure, 'Bazball' will hopefully inspire people to become better players and become even better than what we are.
"I think we've done a lot of things right. One thing India have done is stay true to what makes them successful. We have done that but not been able to execute how we'd like to.
"Whenever we managed to wrestle back any type of momentum with the ball or bat, India were always able to then put it back on to us. That was where the Tests after the first one were won and lost."
Stokes, who played his 100th Test in Rajkot, refused to make any excuses at the end of an anticlimactic few months for England in all formats. As well as this defeat, they were knocked out of the Cricket World Cup at the group stage and lost both ODI and T20 series in the West Indies.
"If we we weren't disappointed, if we weren't frustrated at how the series has ended up, I don't really know what other emotions you could have," Stokes said.
"Use it as fuel. I always feel like I can't work any harder, but I'll come away from this tour and go home and work even harder than what I have done out here for the summer coming up."

"Just looking at results, you don't really get a full understanding of actually how much that we've progressed as a team out here on this tour," Ben Stokes remarked ahead of Dharamsala Test

Watch: England captain Ben Stokes says results don't indicate how far they've progressed as team

"Just looking at results, you don't really get a full understanding of actually how much that we've progressed as a team out here on this tour," Ben Stokes remarked ahead of Dharamsala Test

Tap to watch.

<h2>"Just looking at results, you don't really get a full understanding of actually how much that we've progressed as a team out here on this tour," Ben Stokes remarked ahead of Dharamsala Test</h2>

In a strategic move ahead of the concluding Test against India in Dharamsala, England's selection committee has made a notable change to their squad. Express fast bowler Mark Wood has been recalled to the team in place of Ollie Robinson, as England looks to end the series with a victory. Despite trailing with a 3-1 series deficit after Ranchi, the team remains hopeful for a strong finish.
The England team has decided to continue with their dual-spinner strategy, featuring Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir, even amidst the cooler conditions anticipated at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, nestled in the Himalayan foothills. Although Bashir was sidelined from practice on Wednesday due to a stomach upset, expectations are high that he will recover in time for the match, which also marks a significant milestone for middle-order batsman Jonny Bairstow, who will be celebrating his 100th Test appearance.
Ben Stokes, England's captain, shared insights into the team's preparation and strategic considerations given the local conditions and pitch analysis. "Before we even got here we thought it was probably going to be a three seam and one spin but turning up yesterday and seeing the wicket and again today, going with two seamers and two spinners is probably the right call," Stokes explained. He further commented on the pitch's condition, suggesting that it appears exceptionally conducive for batting, to the point of jesting about the dilemma it would pose for a one-day match captain when deciding on the toss.
Beyond the immediate concerns of lineup adjustments and pitch assessments, Stokes reflected on the broader implications of the tour for England's cricket team. Despite the series loss, he emphasized the team's progress and individual player development throughout the tour. "Just looking at results, you don't really get a full understanding of actually how much that we've progressed as a team out here on this tour," he remarked, underscoring the formidable challenge posed by India's impressive home record and his optimism about the team's future trajectory.
<a href="https://www.editorji.com/sports-news/cricket/india-vs-england-5th-test-preview-ben-stokes-men-fancy-themselves-in-home-like-conditions-1709721480273">India vs England 5th Test preview: Ben Stokes' men fancy themselves in home-like conditions</a>

"3-1 doesn't look great, but the way in which we've come at India is what I'm most proud of," Stokes told British media.

We didn't have a chance in hell of competing with India: Ben Stokes | India vs England

Skipper Ben Stokes expressed pride in how England have fought toe to toe with India despite not having "a chance in hell of competing" with the hosts in the ongoing series.

"3-1 doesn't look great, but the way in which we've come at India is what I'm most proud of," Stokes told British media.

Skipper Ben Stokes expressed pride in how England have fought toe to toe with India despite not having "a chance in hell of competing" with the hosts in the ongoing series.
India registered a 5-wicket win in the 4th and penultimate Test to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series against England, who suffered their first Test series defeat under the leadership of captain Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.
"3-1 doesn't look great, but the way in which we've come at India is what I'm most proud of," Stokes told British media.
"We didn't have a chance in hell of even competing with India. But even today(Monday), that wasn't an easy win for India, and I think they would admit that," he added.
In the fourth Test, England tried to fashion a fight-back before India crossed the line on the fourth day in Ranchi. Chasing 192, India slipped to 120/5, before Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel stitched a 72-run unbroken partnership.
"This young, inexperienced team has been successful over the past two years, but coming to India is a completely different beast, something that this team has not been exposed to."
"The way in which we have reacted to everything, even being on the wrong end of three results, is something I'm incredibly proud of." The visitors had started off with a thrilling win in the opener but the hosts have come back strongly taking the next three fixtures in an emphatic manner.
"I'm very proud of the way every player has thrown everything at India. No one has ever taken a backward step," Stokes said.
England have let slip several promising opportunities in the series. Their batters have displayed poor judgement, giving away the advantage to the hosts.
Opting to bat first, England had a first-innings lead of 46 but weren't able to capitalise on it as they were bowled out for just 145 in their second essay, undone by the Indian spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
Stokes conceded that the Indian spinners' skill in those conditions made it "nigh-on impossible" to play with their attacking game.
"Looking back at when we had our chance to bat yesterday, cricket is always skill against skill. Ashwin, Jadeja and Kuldeep and the conditions we found ourselves in against them was very, very challenging.
"When India have a sniff in conditions like that, any team is going to find it hard to not only keep the scoreboard ticking but rotate the strike. You've got to give them a lot of credit for the way in which they bowled in very favourable conditions. On this occasion, their skill was better than ours yesterday.
"When you've got three world-class spinners operating in conditions like that, you know you're going to be up against it. That period yesterday after lunch was the game.
"Nothing is impossible, I wouldn't say that. But it was nigh on impossible to operate how we wanted to," he added.

Ben Stokes dismissed suggestions England lack a ruthless edge and expressed pride at how his team have fared in Indian conditions.

What does ruthless mean? Stokes dismisses 'throwaway comment' as England lose series

Ben Stokes dismissed suggestions England lack a ruthless edge and expressed pride at how his team have fared in Indian conditions.

Ben Stokes dismissed suggestions England lack a ruthless edge and expressed pride at how his team have fared in Indian conditions.
England succumbed to a first Test series defeat under the leadership of captain Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, as India moved into an unassailable 3-1 lead with a five-wicket victory in Ranchi.
India hit back from 177 for seven in reply to 353 to keep the first-innings deficit to 46 then England crumbled from 110 for three to 145 all out on a turning track and could not stop the hosts chasing 192.
The tourists have let slip promising opportunities on several occasions in this series but Stokes is not one for regrets and instead commended Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja for swinging this Test India's way after they shared all 10 wickets in England's second innings.
The chase was far from straightforward for India, who slipped to 120 for five as Joe Root and Tom Hartley snared Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma before Shoaib Bashir claimed a three-wicket haul.
But an unbroken stand of 72 from Shubman Gill (52 not out) and Dhruv Jurel (39no) got India home to dash England's dream of a series decider in Dharamshala, with the final Test starting on March 7.
India extended a proud winning record at home to 17 successive Test series against an England side who have relied on a rookie spin attack after Jack Leach's tour-ending injury in the opening match.

Praising James Anderson's enduring skill and adaptability, Stokes highlighted the inspirational figure Anderson presents to younger fast bowlers, notwithstanding the focus on the series' current standing over personal milestones.

Video: Ben Stokes highlights strategic changes for England ahead of 4th Test against India in Ranchi

Ben Stokes has shed light on the tactical adjustments within the England squad, notably the inclusion of Ollie Robinson for the 4th #INDvENG Test.

Tap to watch. 
#BenStokes

<h2>Praising James Anderson's enduring skill and adaptability, Stokes highlighted the inspirational figure Anderson presents to younger fast bowlers, notwithstanding the focus on the series' current standing over personal milestones.</h2>

In anticipation of the crucial fourth Test against India, Ben Stokes has shed light on the tactical adjustments within the England squad, notably the inclusion of Ollie Robinson. This decision, according to Stokes, enhances the team's versatility on the Ranchi pitch. "Bringing Robbo (Robinson) in gives us good options, especially looking at this wicket," Stokes remarked during a pre-match press conference, emphasizing the balance between spin assistance and the advantage Robinson's seam bowling could bring due to his height and precision.
The choice to bring in Robinson, who last appeared in the Ashes series, was made at the cost of replacing Mark Wood and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed with Shoaib Bashir. This move underscores the emphasis on maintaining peak performance levels, particularly in fast bowling, a domain where Wood has excelled. "His number one skill is how fast he bowls and the effort he put in last week was monumental," Stokes praised, highlighting the strategic considerations behind the squad selection.
Stokes also delved into the pitch conditions in Ranchi, suggesting a mixed bag of opportunities for spinners and seamers alike. The inclusion of Bashir, known for his high release and the resultant bounce, is seen as a tactical move to exploit these conditions. Despite the speculative nature of pitch analysis, Stokes cautioned against over-relying on preconceived notions, advocating for adaptability based on actual play conditions.
The discussion also turned towards veteran pacer James Anderson, whose proximity to the landmark of 700 wickets was acknowledged by Stokes. Praising Anderson's enduring skill and adaptability, Stokes highlighted the inspirational figure Anderson presents to younger fast bowlers, notwithstanding the focus on the series' current standing over personal milestones.
As for Stokes's own role with the ball, speculation has been rife following his bowling practice at the nets. Despite this, Stokes remained non-committal about his bowling contributions for the upcoming test, underscoring the team's preparedness to adapt to the Ranchi pitch's demands, which may favor spin but does not discount the value of having two pacers.
<a href="https://www.editorji.com/sports-news/ipl/ipl-2024-schedule-announced-csk-to-face-rcb-in-tournament-opener-on-march-22-1708603277810">IPL 2024 schedule announced: CSK to face RCB in tournament opener on March 22</a>

England captain Ben Stokes added spice to the talks on Ranchi pitch for the fourth Test against India, saying he has not seen anything remotely like the 22-yard strip here in the past.

I've never seen something like that before: Ben Stokes on Ranchi pitch | IND vs ENG

England captain Ben Stokes added spice to the talks on Ranchi pitch for the fourth Test against India, saying he has not seen anything remotely like the 22-yard strip here in the past.

England captain Ben Stokes added spice to the talks on Ranchi pitch for the fourth Test against India, saying he has not seen anything remotely like the 22-yard strip here in the past.
India are leading the five-match series 2-1 and the penultimate Test will start here on Friday.
However, discussion about the &ldquo;platey cracks&rdquo; on the pitch as described by England batter Ollie Pope has dominated the build-up to this Test.
Stokes added a touch of intrigue as well.
"It looked interesting, didn't it? I don't know. I can't say much. I don't know, I've never seen something like that before so I have no idea. I don't know what could happen," Stokes was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
It indeed was an ominous reading of the playing surface, if you are from the England camp.
But then Stokes had a reason for it as well. "If you looked down one side of opposite ends it just looked different to what I am used to seeing, especially out in India.
It looked green and grassy up in the changing rooms, but then you go out there, it looked different. Very dark and crumbly and quite a few cracks in it," Stokes offered.
The nature of the pitch also delayed England making a decision on their playing 11. Pacer Ollie Robinson will come in for Mark Wood but the call to add fourth spinner in Shoaib Bashir or an extra batter in Dan Lawrence will have to wait for now.
Lawrence can also double up as a handy off-spinner.
"He's (Robinson) got unbelievable skills to be a successful bowler anywhere in the world. What we've seen in England is he's very skillful, but we've seen more than that in Pakistan.
"It's similar but different here, but the skill he possesses, he can find any movement, and his release point is always going to be dangerous," said Stokes.
So, will Stokes finally wear his bowling cloak? The Durham man remained a bit secretive.
"My knee itself was absolutely fine today bowling. It was just good to push past that 20-minute barrier, which is what I've been working around at the moment. It might be a bit stiff but we'll wait and see," he noted.
<a href="https://www.editorji.com/sports-news/cricket/ashwin-has-not-always-got-enough-credit-for-what-he-is-ab-de-villiers-1708575915354">Ashwin has not always got enough credit for what he is: AB de Villiers</a>

"I am not saying yes, I am not saying no - Ben Stokes had said when he was asked about whether he would be reprising his all-rounder's role after the 434-run defeat.

Ben Stokes mulls bowling comeback amid England's struggles, McCullum cautiously optimistic

England captain Ben Stokes is considering an early return to bowling but head coach Brendon McCullum doesn't want the all-rounder to push himself unnecessarily.

#BenStokes #INDvENG

<h2>"I am not saying yes, I am not saying no - Ben Stokes had said when he was asked about whether he would be reprising his all-rounder's role after the 434-run defeat.</h2>

Back-to-back heavy defeats against India have compelled England captain Ben Stokes to consider an early return to bowling with head coach Brendon McCullum admitting that although it's a good sign, they don't want the all-rounder to push himself unnecessarily.
Stokes, who is still recovering from a knee surgery, hasn't bowled since the second Ashes Test in June last year.
"Well, it's good that he's actually getting into a state where he thinks he might bowl," McCullum was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo on Monday.
"But Ben is clever; he's really clever as well. He won't bowl unless he thinks he's legitimately able to bowl. The problem would be if he starts getting into a spell and then he can't get out of the spell. So we'll see what unfolds.
"If he does get that bit between his teeth, then let's see where the danger lies there and try and pull him away from it. But it's a good sign," McCullum added.
Ahead of the Rajkot Test, Stokes had said he "pinky promised" his physiotherapist he won't be bowling in the ongoing series.
But when asked if he will be reprising his all-rounder's role after the 434-run defeat in the third Test on Sunday, Stokes said, "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." During the Rajkot Test, Stokes had even trained at 100 per cent intensity and conceded that he felt pretty good.
"I managed to bowl at 100 per cent 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." After winning the series opener by 28 runs, England fell to a 106-run defeat followed by one of their worst losses in Rajkot to go 2-1 down in the series with matches left in Ranchi and Dharamsala.
The England team would benefit immensely if the pace all-rounder started bowling again. The visitors opted to field just one seamer in the first two Tests. They dropped Shoaib Bashir to pick both James Anderson and Mark Wood in the third game.
England's "Bazball" approach has also backfired big time in the third Test which they lost by a massive 434 runs, their largest defeat in terms of runs since 1934.
But McCullum said while the defeat is definitely hurting the visitors, they will continue with their attacking 'Bazball' approach in the remainder of the five-match series.
McCullum said he has "no regrets" about their approach.
"We'll turn the page and go quids in again trying to put India under pressure," McCullum was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
"Hopefully, in seven or eight days we'll be talking about how exciting it is to be heading into a decider."
<a href="https://www.editorji.com/sports-news/cricket/england-coach-brendon-mccullum-commits-to-bazball-despite-434-run-defeat-against-india-1708401889073">England coach Brendon McCullum commits to &lsquo;Bazball&rsquo; despite 434-run defeat against India</a>

Former England skippers Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan have lambasted Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum for their 'bazzball' approach after a heavy defeat against India in the 3rd Test.

'Cannot take aggressive route everytime': former captains slam England's 'Bazball' approach

Former England skippers Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan have lambasted Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum for their 'bazball' approach after a heavy defeat against India in the 3rd Test.

&nbsp;Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan have criticised the team's 'Bazball' approach in the ongoing Test series against India, saying the visitors need to apply themselves based on the match situation instead of being guided by a one-dimensional philosophy of aggression.
India registered their biggest-ever Test win, annihilating England by 434 runs in the third Test in Rajkot on Sunday. Chasing 557 to win, the tourists were bundled out for 122. The home side leads 2-1 in the five-match series with games left in Ranchi and Dharamsala.
"This was the worst defeat under (Ben) Stokes and Brendon McCullum and one that exposed their method. They cannot take the aggressive at every opportunity, they have to pick their moments," Vaughan wrote in his column for "Telegraph.co.uk'.
Hussain echoed the sentiment.
"Bazball is about being attacking but it is also about soaking up pressure," Hussain said on 'Sky Sports'.
In contrast, India's Yashsavi Jaiswal, who has two double hundreds in the series so far, Shubman Gill (91) and debutant Sarfaraz Khan played mature knocks in Rajkot, taking time to settle in before going for their strokes.
"They need to look at the way Jaiswal and Shubman Gill played on day three. They soaked up the pressure for 30 or 40 balls, and then they started to get boundaries.
"That is what Test batting is about. India have scored 875 runs in 228.5 overs. No one can tell me it's been boring watching India bat here," Vaughan said.
Things have gone downhill for England since winning the series opener in Hyderabad. The visiting team's batters have displayed poor judgement, giving away the advantage to the hosts.
"...surely a defeat this heavy has to be a wake-up call for Ben Stokes and his players.
"England make out that everything is positive but they need to be having conversations about how to bat better," Vaughan said.
Out-of-form batter Joe Root has been in the eye of the storm for his dismissal in the third Test. His reverse-scoop off Jasprit Bumrah straight to second slip had sparked a collapse of sorts in the first innings.
"The way they played this week has gifted India a victory. I couldn't believe my eyes the way they batted on day three, especially Joe Root's shot," Vaughan said.
Hussain, Vaughan and another former captain Alastair Cook questioned the timing of the shot by Root, given that England were trailing by 221 runs.
"One thing Joe will look at is the timing of that. (Ravichandran) Ashwin wasn't there, India are down a bowler; (Ravindra) Jadeja is playing off the back of an injury; Bumrah is playing three Tests in a row and there is talk of him needing a rest.
"Get Bumrah into his second or third spell, take it deep and then play the shot later in the day," Hussain wrote.
Root had played a similar shot with much success during the Ashes last year.
"When he played it to the first ball at Edgbaston, I didn't mind it at all because it was all about how many runs England were going to score that day to set up a game," Cook said on 'Sky Cricket'.
"It sent a real message to everyone in the changing room that England's best player is going to take on Australia. Root will be sitting in his room tonight going, 'I think I got that one wrong'." At the end of day three of the second Test, pacer James Anderson had asserted that England would chase down 332 runs in 60-70 overs only for them to lose by 106 runs. Ben Duckett was as bullish last week, declaring that "the more the better" when talking about targets.
"They have to be careful that people around don't think they are smug, or above their station...they are in a bubble. All that matters is their dressing room and fun. There is a bit more to Test cricket than that.
"This England team are hell-bent on doing things their way, and 'saving Test cricket'...But ultimately they have to be better than that now. They didn't win in New Zealand, they didn't win the Ashes, and if they carry on like this, they are going to lose in India." Cook and Hussain, however, felt that England are capable of turning it around in the next two games.
<a href="https://www.editorji.com/sports-news/cricket/jasprit-bumrah-set-to-be-rested-for-4th-test-likely-to-return-for-series-finale-in-dharamsala-report-1708321865455">Jasprit Bumrah set to be rested for 4th Test, likely to return for series finale in Dharamsala: Report</a>

England skipper Ben Stokes said the umpire's call on DRS is something that should be done away with, after England opener Zak Crawley fell leg-before against Jasprit Bumrah

'We were a bit bemused': Ben Stokes calls for a change in DRS rule after losing 3rd Test against India

England skipper Ben Stokes said the umpire's call on DRS is something that should be done away with, after England opener Zak Crawley fell leg-before against Jasprit Bumrah

Ben Stokes, the captain of England, has called for a review of the Decision Review System (DRS) in the wake of a controversial leg before-wicket call that cost his team dearly in the third Test against India in Rajkot.
The premier all-rounder said the umpire's call on DRS is something that should be done away with after England opener Zak Crawley fell leg-before against Jasprit Bumrah with the ball appearing to be grazing the leg-stump.
Stokes and England head coach Brendon McCullum even had a chat about it with match referee Jeff Crowe.
&ldquo;We just wanted some clarity around Zak&rsquo;s DRS when the images came back. The ball is quite clearly missing the stump on the replay. When it gets given to the umpire's ball and the ball&rsquo;s not hitting the stumps, we were a bit bemused,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;We just wanted some clarity from the Hawkeye guys. It came back saying the numbers, or whatever it is, it was saying that it was hitting the stumps but it was the projection that was wrong.&rdquo; &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what that means. Something&rsquo;s gone wrong,&nbsp; it&rsquo;s not me blaming that on what&rsquo;s happened here, like I didn&rsquo;t last week. It&rsquo;s just&hellip; what&rsquo;s going on?&rdquo; Stokes said.
The 434-run loss is England's biggest defeat (by the margin of runs) since Ben Stokes took over as the side's Test captain. The visitors folded inside merely two sessions on Day 4, scoring only 122 in the 557-run chase after India's batting order, led by young guns Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, and Shubman Gill, wrecked havoc on the visitors.
<a href="https://www.editorji.com/sports-news/cricket/jasprit-bumrah-set-to-be-rested-for-4th-test-likely-to-return-for-series-finale-in-dharamsala-report-1708321865455">Jasprit Bumrah set to be rested for 4th Test, likely to return for series finale in Dharamsala: Report</a>

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