ENG vs IND: Ben Stokes Confident Before 4th Test Against India at Old Trafford in Manchester
Ahead of the fourth Test match against India at Old Trafford in Manchester, England captain Ben Stokes expressed confidence in his bowling form, recalling how he felt “threatening” during the final day of the Lord’s Test despite picking up only two wickets.
Stokes, who bowled the most overs for England in India’s second innings at Lord’s, delivered 24 overs and finished with three wickets in the match, including the key dismissal of KL Rahul, who had scored a century in the first innings. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Stokes said his rhythm and consistency gave him belief during that spell.
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“I just felt really good, and even though I only got two wickets throughout the day, I felt like I was threatening. My rhythm felt really good. Everything felt just sort of easy,” Stokes explained. He added that during such phases, a bowler feels in control and continues to push through extended spells.
Stokes highlighted that his focus remained solely on securing victory for England rather than personal milestones. “Enjoyment, probably not the right word. I just wanted to win the game for my team,” he said. The England all-rounder also mentioned that he has been managing his workload carefully, breaking up his overs across fielding innings to avoid strain.
Despite leading the wicket charts for England in the current series with 11 dismissals at an average of 29.45 and an economy rate of 3.08, Stokes admitted that his batting returns have not been as impactful, with 163 runs in six innings at an average of 27.16.
England currently lead the five-match series 2-1. India, aiming to level the series, will look to bounce back when the fourth Test begins on Wednesday at Old Trafford.
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