ENG vs IND: Will injured Ben Stokes play 5th test at the Oval? Revealed

Ben Stokes has bowled 140 overs in the ongoing series against India.

England Cricket Team skipper Ben Stokes dropped a massive update about his availability for the last game of the series against the Indian Cricket Team. He said that him not playing the Oval Test will be very unlikely.

Ben Stokes has given his all with the bat and ball in the ongoing series against India. The all-rounder has worked tirelessly, and he is one of the main reasons why the hosts are 2-1 ahead in the five-match series with one game to go.

Ben Stokes has been sensational with the bat as well as the ball. His best came in the last game at Old Trafford in Manchester. He first picked a fifer in the first innings and then returned with a brilliant knock of 141 runs with the bat that helped his team take a massive lead of 311 in the first innings.

Overall, in the series, Ben Stokes has bowled 140 overs, which is the most by any bowler. He is also the leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets to his name in the four games. 

In the second innings of the Manchester test, he looked in some discomfort and then didn’t bowl on day four. However, he resumed his bowling on day five but didn’t look in great shape as he had over the last three games. 

I don’t want to eat my words, but the likelihood that I won’t play is very unlikely – Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes admitted that his workload has been pretty big in the series, and while provided an update about his fitness. He said:

“It’s been a pretty big workload so far in the series,” he said. “I had a big week last week at Lord’s, with time spent out in the middle with bat in hand and obviously overs bowled, and then the same again this week. I said it a few times to the guys out there: ‘pain is just an emotion.’ It’s just one of those things.”

“It is actually my bicep tendon. It obviously had quite a lot of workload through it, just been creeping around. But yeah, [I spent] a lot of time out in the middle doing my job as an allrounder this week and [it] just got a little bit flared up… It didn’t get any worse throughout the day, just stayed the same, so that’s why I kept on going.”

Ben Stokes also confirmed that he will be playing the last game, saying:

“Hopefully, it settles down and we’ll be good as gold for the last game… I don’t want to eat my words, but the likelihood that I won’t play is very unlikely.”

The last game of the series will begin on 31st July. England lead the series 2-1 and would be keen to win the last match. 

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