Follow UsEngland captain Ben Stokes did not bowl a single over on Day 4 of the fourth Test against India in Manchester. He has bowled 129 overs in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the most he has bowled in a single series. In fact, Stokes retired hurt while batting, but later on returned to score a century.
Stokes returned to Test cricket in January after a hamstring surgery, and the workload he has gone through with both bat and ball could very well restrict him from being 100% for the rest of the series.
England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick has provided an update on Stokes' availability with the ball on Day 5, a day that could potentially see England clinch the series.
"He's a bit stiff and sore," Trescothick said at stumps on Day 4.
"He's had quite a big workload in the last few weeks, and then batting in the first innings, he was getting quite a bit of cramp. We are hoping that with another night's rest and a bit more physio work overnight, he'll be back and doing a bit tomorrow."
Trescothick also revealed that the team management will take a call on Stokes' role in the match, depending on how he shapes up ahead of the start of Day 5. He played a crucial role with the ball in the first innings, finishing with 5/72.
"It's just such a heavy workload, from where he's been to what he's doing. It's just trying to monitor it, and obviously, the cramp that he was getting yesterday, you have that little bit of worry… We'll see what he's like tomorrow," he said.
India still trail England by 137 runs with eight wickets in hand, heading into the final day of the match. KL Rahul (87*) and skipper Shubman Gill (78*), who have put on 174 for the third wicket, will hope to take India to safety and keep the series alive.