OLD TRAFFORD — Whether or not England wrap up this series on the final day in Manchester, they should seriously consider resting the totemic figure of captain Ben Stokes for next week’s final Test at The Oval.
Having started their second innings by losing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan in successive balls during Chris Woakes’ first over, India’s third-wicket pair dropped anchor during an unbeaten 174-run stand across 62 overs to offer hope the series will still be alive when the tourists head to London on Monday.
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— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 26, 2025Nobody needed a reminder of just how influential Stokes is. But he’s underlined the point in permanent marker anyway during this match, following up his first five-wicket haul for eight years with his first Test century since 2023 on a fourth day that started with England assuming an utterly dominant position.
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It is his ability with the ball that makes him the real difference-maker for this team.
Yet having overcome knee and hamstring issues in recent years, Stokes is always walking a fitness tightrope.
It’s why Stokes must be saved from himself and rested next week.
It felt highly significant that with his team struggling for inspiration on this fourth day, Stokes did not bring himself on to bowl.
That will probably change on Sunday, but having admitted he’d taken himself to “dark places” during his final-day heroics for England in the third Test at Lord’s, it’s no wonder Stokes’ body is rebelling.
Seven-thousand and counting…Ben Stokes sends one into the stands to bring up a massive milestone pic.twitter.com/xz71tFJaFo
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 26, 2025Although he later came out to resume his innings and was moving freely as he blazed his way to a 14th Test century on Saturday, something is not quite right. And England cannot risk another injury to their captain so close to the Ashes.
With the first Ashes Test in Perth on 21 November less than three months away, the window for any rehabilitation period this time is punishingly narrow.
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With him bowling and batting like he has this summer against India, England may just go and win their first away Ashes series in 15 years. Without Stokes, their chances would be virtually zero.
He’s also the first England captain to have taken five wickets and scored a century in a single Test. That’s something neither Ian Botham nor Andrew Flintoff managed leading their country.
Stokes is a player who’s taken five-wicket hauls and scored centuries both home and away against India and Australia. He saves his very best for the biggest occasions. It’s the story of his remarkable career.
If this series is still on the line next week, it’s hard to see that happening.
It means the stakes on the final day in Manchester couldn’t be higher.
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