Ben Stokes reveals stance on bowling after England crash to poor India defeat - 'I feel really good'

Ben Stokes reveals stance on bowling after England crash to poor India defeat - 'I feel really good'

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as England crash to India defeat

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 18/02/2024

- 14:30

The Three Lions captain has opened up following Sunday's loss

Ben Stokes has refused to rule out bowling following England's defeat to India on Sunday, with the Three Lions captain admitting he feels 'really good'.

The tourists lost by 434 runs, with the hosts now 2-1 up in the series with two more matches left to play.


Stokes has battled with injuries over the past year, with the England captain bowling less as a result.

But the 32-year-old has now admitted it's not unfeasible that he'll step up and try and take some India wickets later in the series, though did keep his cards close to his chest.

Ben Stokes England India

Ben Stokes is open to bowling again after England suffered during India defeat

GETTY

Speaking to TNT Sports, Stokes said: "I feel really good. I had my first bowl at 100 per cent.

"As a person I like to jump the gun a little bit too much. I have said I have a whole body to get used to bowling.

"I am not saying no but I am not saying yes either."

Stokes also says England won't dwell on the defeat, with the skipper demanding a big response when the third Test begins on February 23.

"Every game has been filled with multiple unbelievable things to witness as a supporter," he said.

"Jaiswal, that double hundred, was phenomenal to watch. Ben Duckett played an incredible knock.

"We are very disappointed to be on the wrong side of the result but one thing we are very good at as a team is to leave everything behind us - make sure we are focussing on what we have ahead.

"Games can be won and lost in the head. We will be leaving the disappointment and going on to the next one."

He continued: "You look at the situation found ourselves in on day three, the way I felt the day needed to go to give ourselves chance of winning was to press the button after the lunch break.

"Me, personally, I sensed it as an opportunity to have one of my days out.

"I have got unbelievable belief in myself just like I have belief in everyone in there that they can turn the game in our favour.

"We wanted to be bowling at the back end of day three. It came earlier than we wanted to. It was unfortunate."

India captain Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, praised his side for getting the job done and believes his side's bowlers proved to be the difference between the two nations.

"When you play Test cricket, it's not played over two days or three days," he said.

"We know the importance of staying in the game for five days.

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Ben Stokes England India

Ben Stokes is confident England can bounce back following their defeat to India in the third Test on Sunday

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"They put us under pressure, we've got class in our squad when it comes to bowling.

"The message was to stay calm, it's easy to drift away from what you want to do.

"I'm proud of how we came back, and when that happens it's a delight to watch.

"It was a good toss to win, we know how important in India it is to win and get runs on the board.

India England

India were vastly superior to England as they inflicted a second straight defeat on the tourists

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"After that onslaught from the England batters, the bowlers showed a lot of character.

"We knew the job was half done, in the second innings we wanted to come out and bat and get the lead that we wanted."

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