Stokes ready to bowl as fielding is ‘boring’
England all-rounder Ben Stokes says he is fit to bowl in the third ODI against Pakistan, and hopes his skipper calls on him because standing in the field without a bowl bores him to tears.
Stokes played the first two ODIs, both of which England won, as a pure batsman ahead of Jonny Bairstow, as Stokes was struggling with a calf injury.
Stokes said he was surprised to be picked ahead of an in-form Bairstow, but was not going to complain about game time, even though fielding alone was very boring to him.
Stokes 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.
“Not bowling makes the fielding innings seem a lot longer. It’s so boring. If you bowl 10 overs, it kind of takes 20 overs out of the game for you.
“But knowing I wasn’t going to bowl in these first two games, I worked longer on my batting in the build-up days. It’s normally quite hard to get everything into training that I want, so it’s been quite nice to solely concentrate on the batting in these first two games.
“But I will be going into the next training session trying to put my hand up and say I am fit to bowl.”
He added: “The plan from the start was to be fit and ready to bowl by the third ODI. By the way things are going it is looking likely I will be an option for Eoin Morgan in Nottingham if needed.
“I have done all the prep to get myself fit and put my hand up and say I am ready to bowl. I bowled for about 15 minutes flat out and all the build-up stuff I needed to do has been done.”
The third of five ODIs will be played at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.
Latest
-
News
England Women wrap up 4-1 series victory in New Zealand
Heather Knight top-scored with 35 in England’s chase of 137.
-
England
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.