NEW DELHI: After an absorbing Day 4 of the fourth Test in Manchester, the absence of England captain Ben Stokes from the bowling attack has sparked debate — and former England batter Jonathan Trott believes medical advice could be the reason.
Stokes, who walked off the field on Day 3 with visible discomfort in his leg, made a stunning return with the bat, scoring his first Test century in over two years — a commanding 141 off 198 balls — propelling England to a mammoth 669-run total in reply to India’s 358.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!However, despite his all-rounder status and usual tendency to intervene in high-pressure moments, Stokes did not bowl on Day 4 as India recovered from 0/2 to 174/2, courtesy of a resilient unbroken stand between KL Rahul (87*) and Shubman Gill (78*).
Speaking on JioStar’s Match Centre Live, Trott said: “I’m not sure Ben Stokes is the kind of character who lets a partnership build without intervening. If it were up to him, I believe he would have grabbed the ball much earlier — just to see how he felt.”
Trott emphasised Stokes’ instinct to impact the game: “Stokes is a ‘today, right now’ kind of cricketer. So yes, it’s possible he’s being wrapped in cotton wool — maybe on doctor’s advice. But honestly, if he could bowl, we would have already seen him in action today.”
Stokes has had a history of hamstring and back injuries, and with a crucial Ashes tour to Australia looming, England’s management might be playing it safe — despite Stokes leading England’s wicket charts in this series with 16 wickets, including a five-wicket haul.
India, still trailing by 137 runs, will resume Day 5 with hopes of forcing a draw — and eyes will be on whether Stokes finally rolls his arm over.
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