Stokes eager to bowl to relieve boredom

Ben Stokes hopes to return to bowling in the third ODI of the series against Pakistan having recovered from injury.

Stokes has played in the first two matches as a specialist batsman – a decision he admits was something of a surprise given the form of Jonny Bairstow – but has bowled at full pace in training in recent days and feels he will be able to play a full-part with the ball at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

He has endured an injury ravaged summer. Having had to pull out of the Sri Lanka series with a knee injury that required surgery, he limped out of his comeback game in international cricket, the second Test at Old Trafford against Pakistan, after sustaining a calf injury.

“The plan from the start was to be fit and ready to bowl by the third ODI,” Stokes said. “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 selection of Stokes ahead of various other batting options is intriguing. He is, after all, averaging an underwhelming 22.48 after 41 ODIs.

But the England management talk highly of the energy and edge he gives the side – an edge they …

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