England Skipper Ben Stokes who made his 100th Test appearance, as he stepped onto the field for the third IND vs ENG Test, aims to make a comeback after a defeat at Vizag.
Speaking after the toss to India great Ravi Shastri, Ben Stokes stated that he would have opted to bat, as is customary in India. He reflected on the milestone of the 100th Test match, stating that time seems to fly when one is enjoying themselves.
“We’d have batted too, that’s what you do in India. (On 100th Test) Time does fly when you’re having fun. “ said Stokes.
He remarked on the series being evenly balanced, indicating that it provides a fair representation of both teams’ abilities. Stokes expressed contentment with the way events have unfolded.
” Series is nicely balanced, it’s a fair reflection of both teams. We’re happy with how things have gone“
He described the break as a welcome opportunity to rejuvenate, mentioning the chance to spend time with family in Dubai away from the cricketing environment. Stokes emphasized the physical and mental toll of cricket and the importance of taking breaks.
“It’s been a nice break which helped us refresh. There was no cricket, we got the families out in Dubai. Cricket can be physically and mentally demanding, so it was a great opportunity to get away from cricket and get the feet up.“
Regarding the Test match, he acknowledged the game’s unpredictable nature and credited India for their success. Additionally, he announced a change in the lineup, stating that Mark Wood would be replacing Shoaib Bashir.
“The great thing about Test matches is there are so many moments where things can change and India came out on top. “
England XI:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes †, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson
