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Trailing by 0-1 in the series, India are scheduled to take on the hosts England in the second Test of a five-match series at Edgbaston, Birmingham from July 2 to 6. After a tough defeat in the first Test in Leeds, India will be looking to make a comeback in the second Test and level the series by 1-1. However, the main concern for the Indian fans is whether their star pacer Jasprit Bumrah will play in the second Test of the series
Ahead of the series, the management decided that Bumrah will play only three out of the five Test matches in the series to manage his workload. Now, as Bumrah was a part of the playing XI in the first, the fans are concerned whether he will play in the second Test or not. When a question regarding Bumrah’s workload management was asked to the England skipper Ben Stokes, he said that it’s upon India on how they deal with it. “That’s India’s problem. They will deal with it. I am the captain of England. Good team. They always fight hard, come hard. Very passionate team," Stokes said at the pre-match press conference.
“It’s pretty clear that there’s always pressure on the shoulders of international sportsmen, but playing for India, in cricket, there’s a bit more on any other nation. So, yeah, a very proud nation," English Test skipper further added.
I was a shadow of myself: Ben Stokes on missing cricket for six months due to injury
Ben Stokes looked in good touch in the first Test at Headingley especially with ball as the English skipper taking four wickets in the first innings and one in the second innings. Stokes was out of cricketing action for the last six months because of injury. Now, he looks fiiter than before and will be looking to have a big series against India.
“I feel better now than I did on Thursday and Friday (laughs). Everyone was very tired that week. It was a big week, we were on the field and bowled for another five days, so yeah, big week for everyone," Stokes said.
“I was a shadow of myself, but it goes to show how much a five-day Test takes out of you. I was pretty tired, but I’m all over that now and ready to go tomorrow," he further added.
