England Unsure If Stokes Will Bowl On Fifth Day

England will "wait and see" whether skipper Ben Stokes is fresh capable to vessel erstwhile they push for triumph complete India connected nan last time of nan 4th Test astatine Old Trafford, says adjunct coach Marcus Trescothick.

After taking 5 wickets successful nan first innings, Stokes did not vessel arsenic India dug successful to scope 174-2 astatine nan extremity of time four, still 137 runs behind.

Trescothick said that was because Stokes, who has been dogged by wounded issues successful caller years and had to discontinue wounded while batting pinch cramp connected time three, was "a spot stiff and sore".

"We are still hopeful he will beryllium amended tomorrow and travel backmost out, beryllium a spot looser and fresh to spell again," Trescothick told BBC Test Match Special.

"We will measure it overnight and spot what happens."

Asked astir Stokes' fittingness connected Friday evening, vice-captain Ollie Pope said Stokes was "good to go".

Though nan talismanic all-rounder batted connected successful nan greeting convention to people 141 - his first Test period for 2 years - that he did not bring himself into nan onslaught and that Trescothick formed uncertainty connected him playing a portion connected Sunday is of concern.

He appeared weary successful nan field, often bending complete pinch his hands connected his knees and emotion his near hamstring astatine 1 shape successful nan afternoon.

His broadside looked connected people for triumph erstwhile Chris Woakes dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan but, successful batting retired nan remaining 62.1 overs of nan day, skipper Shubman Gill and opener KL Rahul person fixed India dream of batting retired nan last time for a tie and ensuring they caput to The Oval 2-1 down pinch 1 lucifer to play successful nan series.

"Ben Stokes chased 1 to heavy other cover, he held his hamstring, that was visible for everyone to see," erstwhile England skipper Michael Vaughan said.

"We'll hold and see. Ben is simply a super-human astatine times. He was astir apt hoping coming that they would get nan wickets and he wasn't going to beryllium required.

"It doesn't half show you really important he is to nan attack."

Stokes had room connected his near hamstring successful January, having torn nan aforesaid musculus past summertime and had a knee cognition successful November 2023.

He only returned to bowling successful precocious May during nan one-off Test against Zimbabwe.

Still, Stokes has been England's astir accordant seamer this summer. His 16 wickets successful nan bid are nan astir connected either side.

However, nan 129 overs has has bowled is his biggest workload successful a azygous series, contempt Trescothick saying aft nan 2nd hamstring tear successful December he may person to negociate his bowling workloads. There are besides only 3 days disconnected earlier nan 5th Test adjacent week.

Trescothick suggested England's guidance still needs to find a measurement to protect Stokes, who will beryllium seeking to thief England regain nan Ashes successful Australia later successful nan year.

"You person to negociate everyone - him nary different because of his effect arsenic skipper of nan squad you want him playing arsenic galore games arsenic possible,

"If we tin find a measurement [to limit his overs], of people it will benefit. The much games he will drawstring together arsenic skipper and leader nan amended that will beryllium for nan team."

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant will bat if required contempt his surgery foot.