• Source:JND
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Ahead of the final two Tests of the series, England will get a major boost to their squad as captain Ben Stokes is open to bowl and contribute as pure all-rounder but the final decision will be taken by the medical team considering his workload management.

England suffered a daunting 434 runs thrashing against India in the third Test of the series in Rajkot as the hosts took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

With series loss over the line in the upcoming fourth Test in Ranchi, England are exploring new options to trouble them on their home turf.

In the ongoing series against India, Stokes has not bowled a single over but was seen honing his skills in the practice ahead of the second Test in Visakhapatnam. He bowled at full intensity and pace in Rajkot last week. Stokes has been out of bowling since the second Ashes Test against Australia at Lord's in June, 2023.

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The all-rounder underwent an operation on his left knee at the end of November to recover for the India tour. Since then he has been recovering well from his injury and eyeing a return to bowling.

"I'm not saying yes, I'm not saying no," Stokes remained optimistic when asked if he would bowl during the remainder of the India series.

"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.

"I managed to bowl at 100 percent 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," he added.

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England head coach Brendon McCullum said Stokes returning to bowling is a 'good sign' but the precaution should be taken before making any concrete decision.

"Well, it's good that he's actually getting into a state where he thinks he might bowl. 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," McCullum said.

"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," he added.

Stokes' availability as a bowling option will allow England to play three seamers alongside James Anderson and Mark Wood alongside two frontline spinners Tom Hartley and Rehan Ahmed.

McCullum confirmed that the final decision on the playing 11 will be taken after assessing the conditions in Ranchi as they have plenty of options in their squad.

"We've got two really good options on the sideline as well with Ollie Robinson and Gus Atkinson. So we've got a really good squad to pick from. We just need to work out when we get there what conditions we're going to be confronted with and see the health of the army, and then make a decision on what we go with," McCullum posed.

"Obviously we haven't seen the conditions in Ranchi yet. I think it might spin. I guess it should spin but we'll see when we get there. But, look, we're really comfortable with what we've got and we're certainly not going to add to the squad.

"We've got a group of players here who have played some outstanding cricket so far over the last three Test matches and whatever XI we decide to go with we will fully back. Hopefully we'll be in a different situation to what we're in now."

England Test squad for India series: Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood.