England’s Ben Stokes an injury doubt for third Test after running on beach
Ben Stokes has emerged as an injury doubt for the third Test against West Indies starting on Saturday with a bruised right heel that may have been caused by running on the beach.
The all-rounder reported soreness in the area after the team underwent a fitness session on the sands of Rodney Bay on Wednesday morning and did not appear 24 hours later, when practice resumed at the Darren Sammy Stadium.
England are still hopeful Stokes can feature in the Test, with the touring side desperate to avoid a 3-0 series whitewash. But they are taking a cautious route for a player who has sent down 77 overs in the series – not least since his obvious replacement, Chris Woakes, is nursing knee soreness and was due to lie low before the impending one-day series.
Another concern is the fitness of Ben Foakes, who sustained a bruised hand during the 10-wicket defeat in Antigua. Should Foakes miss out – the Surrey wicketkeeper did at least train – the plan is for Keaton Jennings to return as opener, moving Joe Denly down to No 3 and Jonny Bairstow continuing with the gloves from a lower batting position. Much depends on whether Stokes can bowl.
Whatever the makeup of the XI, Jos Buttler expects a response, both to the 2-0 series score and the head coach, Trevor Bayliss, questioning their will to fight during this series. “I think as a player when those kind of things are questioned it can hurt your pride so you want to prove him wrong,” Buttler said.
“We have not been able to soak up the pressure West Indies have put on us and we haven’t got anything going in partnerships or anyone individually standing up, making a score and batting for periods of time. Those are the areas we need to improve this week.”
Buttler is feeling the heat himself. Brought back into the side to great success last summer and promoted to vicecaptain only two games in, the righthander has made just a couple of 20s from four innings this series and still has just one century from 52 Test innings: a 176-ball 102 against India at Trent Bridge last summer.
He added: “That innings is the best blueprint for me in red-ball cricket. When you experience those feelings and emotions you’re desperate to experience it again. It’s something I can look back at and draw on as the best template.”
West Indies will be forced into at least one change. Jason Holder is suspended for the team’s slow over-rate in Antigua and either the all-rounder
Keemo Paul or Oshane Thomas, an outand-out quick who is an imposing physical presence, will step up at a ground that has produced two results from six Tests.
Shannon Gabriel, whose slowness between balls has been blamed for the captain’s absence, expects a seamers’ pitch and having seen his colleagues