Rob Key, England’s managing director of cricket, has detailed the responsibilities of captain Ben Stokes in the upcoming vital Test series against India. The prominent all-rounder underwent significant knee surgery recently and is anticipated to be in complete fitness before the team’s departure for India.
Stokes was included in the 16-member squad declared by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), marking his most formidable task since taking on the Test captaincy. He has already opted out of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) due to concerns about his knee condition.
Due to concerns about his unstable knee, the all-rounder has predominantly taken on a batting role recently. He bowled merely 29 overs in the recent five-match Ashes series. While the common belief was that the captain would resume bowling after the surgery, Key has clarified that it’s not the case for the time being.
“His surgery has been a success, we are expecting him to be fit but we are not expecting him to be able to bowl. We never had him down to be bowling in India. This is part of an ongoing process in terms of getting him back to bowling,” Rob Key said this after the squad for India Tests was announced.
England included four fast bowlers, featuring James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, and Gus Atkinson, in the squad for the Tests against India. Additionally, considering the playing conditions, the No.3-ranked Test team incorporated four spinners into the squad.
“Stokesy is doing good but it would be silly for me not to prepare” – Ollie Pope’s thoughts on the prospect of captaining in India
Stokes’ participation in India will depend on his recovery from knee surgery in the upcoming months. Ollie Pope remains the vice-captain and might need to assume the leadership role if circumstances don’t unfold as expected.
“I think, naturally, when you are vice-captain, there is always a risk that the captain can go down.”
”Of course that is something that I can think about if it needs to happen but the feedback I have had from the physios [regarding Stokes] since the surgery has been really positive.”
”Stokesy is doing good but it would be silly for me not to prepare”, Pope recently told ESPNcricinfo.
The England tour of India, featuring five Tests, is scheduled to commence in Hyderabad on January 25, 2024.
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