Root’s side pin hopes on ‘Superman’ Stokes to salvage Test series

England have called on “Superman” Ben Stokes to inspire a revival and level the series with India, after Rishabh Pant put the tourists to the sword in Ahmedabad.

Stokes was England’s inspiration in the opening two sessions, dismissing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in a hostile spell as the allrounder stepped up as part of a twoman pace attack.

And spin coach Jeetan Patel believes the “warhorse” can again put his body on the line to inspire England and square the series 2-2.

“He is the guy you want to go to for anything, really,” Patel said. “He is like a Superman with this sort of stuff. He really does enjoy the tough battles; the way he batted, the way he trained leading up to this game even though he wasn’t feeling the greatest.”

Stokes bowled only 15 overs in the first three Tests but delivered 10 unchanged in the morning session yesterday as he played his part alongside James Anderson to haul England back into the match.

“I wonder if knowing he was taking the new ball just gave him that extra kick,” said Patel. “To bowl for an hour and a half and create the opportunities he did, you have to tip your hat to that. And then to come back at the end of the day when things were flatter and it wasn’t quite working and try harder again, it’s pretty special to see.”

Recalled off-spinner Dom Bess struggled, bowling only 14 overs in the day without taking a wicket – and former England bowler Steve Harmison accused the national side of “throwing him under a bus”.

Bess has taken nought for 56 from 15 overs in his comeback Test, fighting to maintain control, and Harmison believes the furore over the departure of Moeen Ali, who turned down a request to stay after the second Test, undermined Bess.

“Dom Bess was chucked under the bus by the whole hullabaloo with Moeen Ali,” Harmison told Talksport. “The minute they asked Moeen Ali to stay was the minute Bess was going under that bus. That, for me, was a downward spiral for a young kid who has played very few Test matches.

“He sat and watched for the last two or three weeks and all he can think about is Moeen Ali staying.”