Loss nudges Ben Stokes to consider bowling

Rajkot, February 20

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 told a website on Monday.

“But Ben is clever. 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,” McCullum added.

McCullum defends Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow has come in for criticism after scoring just 102 runs in three matches in India but McCullum said it was important to show faith in the batter and that he has no plans to drop him for the fourth Test.

Bairstow’s highest score in the series so far was 37, posted in the opener in Hyderabad. He scored four runs in Rajkot and was trapped lbw for a duck in his first innings.

McCullum acknowledged that Bairstow had underperformed during the series but said he deserved some time to get back on track. “I’m not blind but he’s done so well for us and he’s had such an impactful career,” McCullum said. — Agencies

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