BEN’S ROAD BACK
CRICKET Stokes fit for a bowl
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BEN STOKES is ready to be let loose after declaring himself fit to bowl for the rest of the ODI series against Pakistan.
The Durham all-rounder has played as a specialist batsman in the opening two wins as a precaution following a calf injury.
He will return to the attack for Eoin Morgan’s men in tomorrow’s third ODI at Trent Bridge.
A win in Nottingham will see England wrap up the series and Stokes said: “The plan from the start was to be fit and ready to bowl by the third match.
Prep
“And the way things are going it is looking likely I will be an option for Eoin in Nottingham if needed.
“I’ve done all the prep to get myself fit and I’m putting my hand up to say I am ready to bowl.
“I bowled for about 15 minutes flat out in my last net session. All the build-up stuff I needed to do has been done, so if I am needed hopefully Eoin will ask.”
Stokes found it slow going in the field. He hit an eye-catching 42 from 30 balls in Saturday’s fourwicket win at Lord’s but said: “It’s so boring. Honestly, it makes the fielding innings seem a lot longer. But I apply myself on my fielding as well. One thing that keeps me switched on is that I don’t want to give away any runs.
“I want to stop as many as possible and that has got me through the fact I am not bowling.”
Stokes was given the nod ahead of in-form Jonny Bairstow and is keen to repay Morgan’s faith.
He said: “I was a bit surprised I got the nod ahead of Jonny. Since South Africa he has shown amazing form.
“But at the same time it’s nice to get that confidence from your captain and coach saying we want you to play as a specialist batsman.” England have made light work of chasing down below-par Pakistan totals of 260 and 251.
A 5-0 series whitewash is on the cards but Stokes added: “We could spill into dangerous territory if we start to think too far ahead.
“We have gone 2-0 up in the series because we have been playing the better cricket.
“If we were to think we have won it already and slip up that would be the worst thing we could do.
“We haven’t won the series yet, we have got the next game to do that so we’ll still be trying to improve on these performances.”