IND vs ENG: Desperate England are likely to get 'Bowler' Ben Stokes in the fourth Test in Ranchi

England red-ball captain Ben Stokes has not bowled in international cricket since his knee surgery last year.

Ben Stokes speaks to the media after the third Test against India. (Image: PTI)

Rajkot: Ben Stokes is likely to return to bowling when they take on India in the fourth Test match starting on February 23 in Ranchi. The England skipper, who underwent knee surgery last year, is yet to resume bowling in full swing but hinted at a possible return in less than a week at the JSCA International Stadium Complex. When he came to India with a spin-heavy side, the England bowling line-up looked weak, with the exception of newcomer Tom Hartley. Even the likes of James Anderson and Mark Wood failed to score against an inexperienced Indian batsman.

Should Stokes run with ball in hand, it will be nothing but a blessing in disguise for the visitors who are trailing 1-2 in the five-match series. With the T20 World Cup in sight, the ongoing series could be Stokes' best platform to see where he stands in terms of his bowling. Interestingly, he will also miss IPL 2024.

“I managed to get my first bowl to 100 percent. I'm not going to lie. I feel really great. As a person, I like to jump around a bit, but things feel really good. I have a whole body to get used to bowling again. It's not a yes, but it's not a no either,” Stokes told Sky Sports.