Either way, the performance of captain Ben Stokes on the third day of this third Test against India was a reason for genuine optimism as England look ahead to the final two matches of this series and this winter’s Ashes series in Australia.
Those doubts have evaporated after a bowling performance in this Test that has seen him arguably be England’s most threatening attacking weapon.
OUT OF NOWHERE a beauty from Ben Stokes!
Nitish Kumar Reddy departs for 30 pic.twitter.com/Tfm7nNpg2z
Archer, though, has not affected the game as yet. And that’s OK given his time away from red-ball cricket.
He will surely get better the more he plays. This is all very encouraging, especially with Mark Wood back bowling in the nets and in with a chance of playing the final match of this series at the Oval at the end of the month.
Yet in terms of Stokes, his performance with the ball in this third Test has surpassed all expectations. He consistently troubled India’s batters despite a moribund Lord’s surface.
England fans’ hearts were in mouths when Stokes was nursing a groin injury on day one (Photo: Getty)Even more remarkably, it comes two days after he appeared to be struggling with a groin issue sustained while batting that required lengthy treatment on the first evening and saw him limping as he ran between the wickets.
Still, the way he has bounced back with ball in hand has been spectacular, no more so than when he dismissed Nitish Kumar Reddy shortly after tea on day three with a short ball that reared up off the pitch and kissed the glove before thudding into the gloves of wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
This 14-over spell, Stokes’s fourth of the match that spanned either side of tea, averaged 85.3mph in speed.
"This is Ben Stokes at his absolute best." pic.twitter.com/1EZwlhSqXr
After bowling 61 overs across the first two Tests, Stokes has got through 20 more so far at Lord’s.
Stokes also contributed with a brilliant direct-hit run out on the stroke of lunch to get rid of the dangerous Rishabh Pant to provide England’s sole breakthrough in the morning session.
With this game dead level after both teams’ first innings, the hosts will require more heroics from Stokes during India’s run chase.
It's all kicking off at Lord's!
Zak Crawley is doing everything to slow down the final over of the day, the Indian players are sarcastically applauding as he calls over the physio… pic.twitter.com/Lkgr2Fi1Ho
Yet there must now be optimism that Stokes can prove to be the difference maker for his team for the remainder of this Test summer and into an Ashes winter that will define his captaincy.
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