You don’t want to leave out someone like Ben

appear incapable of playing the moving ball.

Yet maybe India will take solace from the fact that so much of the attention – and pressure – has been taken off them thanks to Stokes.

England coped well with the publicity surrounding the 27-year-old’s trial while winning at Lord’s. But that particular circus, which saw cricket return to newspaper front pages and top of the news bulletins for all the wrong reasons, was happening in Bristol.

In the days before this third Test, the circus has come to their doorstep at Trent Bridge, where the sheer number of news channel cameramen and photographers has forced the venue’s management to put this usually relaxed ground on lockdown.

It is a change from the normal routine and the players will have noticed. The question is whether it will it affect them once the Test starts.

Root, who yesterday fielded 11 separate questions on Stokes during a nine-minute media conference, said: “As a team, we’ve just got to make sure we have five days of good solid cricket. We’ve got a huge opportunity in front of us but ultimately – as we have so far – we’ve got to start well first morning, and try to carry forward.”

One of the many strands of argument surrounding Stokes’ return has been whether rushing him back into the team so soon is, as the Australians would say, ‘a bad look’.

“That was a decision made above our heads,” said Root, who was consulted.

“He has been made available for selection. From that point on it was about, is he good enough to play for England? then that He has been a fine process and he has been found performer for us for a long not guilty now. But I am sure period of time. You don’t he is very aware there might be want to leave someone like a slightly different reaction.” Ben out. One cricketing consequence “He is a big part of our of Stokes’ return is Sam team and has the Curran losing his place. The ability to change the 20-year-old was man of the game. Hopefully match in the opening Test but that can be the there is no room for sentiment case this week.” with the series on the line. “Sam Asked about wasn’t delighted but he took it the reception very maturely,” said Root. “He’s Stokes might a big part of this squad and I receive from am sure he’ll have another part the crowd, to play in the series.” Root said: India will shuffle the pack in “Who a bid to fight back, with opener knows? It Shikhar Dhawan expected to is very come in for Murali Vijay, difficult to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant to say. It has be given a debut in place of been a Dinesh Karthik and paceman long time, Jasprit Bumrah set to replace a long spinner Kuldeep Yadav. FULL SWING: Kohli has been the only Indian coping with the moving ball