“Always thought Joe Root under-bowled himself as captain” - Ben Stokes

As per tradition, England skipper Ben Stokes appeared before the media on the eve of the second Test between India and England. 

This time, spinner Jack Leach has had to sit out due to his knee injury, and the tall off-spinner Shoaib Bashir will be making his debut for England. Meanwhile, along with three young spinners who have played a total of three Tests between them, James Anderson has also made it to the English eleven, replacing Mark Wood. 

“It might play a little bit better initially than it did last week, but we don't like to go in with too many preconceived ideas. We like to have some kind of idea because obviously, that's how we pick the team, then we play what's in front of us," Stokes mentioned regarding the conditions and the eleven. 

With England playing three rookie spinners along with a 41-year-old pacer at Vizag, it seems likely that the new fourth-best Test allrounder of the world, Joe Root, might have to do a lot more bowling than one of the spinners for sure. The batter, who has scored 11,447 runs, picked up four wickets in Hyderabad in India’s first innings and has 65 Test wickets already. 

Speaking on his ace batter’s bowling, skipper Stokes said with a smile, “I did always say to Joe [Root] I thought he under bowled himself as captain, and when he walked off with four-for, I did say to him, ' See, I told you I'd make a bowler out of you.”

“To also have the benefit of Joe's bowling out here is obviously massive. I'm surprised he's not actually mentioned he's nipped above me, but I think we're just two people who don't really care about stuff like that. He's a great batsman, but when his bowling comes into consideration as well, it's a huge bonus having him out here, " Stokes added. 

Meanwhile, Stokes wasn’t worried at all if the visa delay that kept Shoaib Bashir away from the team would affect his performance. “No worries for me; he hasn’t forgotten how to bowl spin,” Stokes chuckled. 

The English skipper also hyped up his old teammate James Anderson, who astoundingly will be the lone pacer for an English side in India at 41. Not to forget that the 183 Test-old veteran also has a great record for a pacer in India (34 poles at 29.32). 

“It's not just picking Jimmy for the new ball. It's the other stuff he possesses as well. It's great that Jimmy is doing good things for the old boys out there. It's a huge credit. Many people should look up to Jimmy, considering he is where he is at 41."