England will head into the second day of the third Test towards India at Lord’s with recent doubts over the health of inspirational captain Ben Stokes.
The skipper pulled up with what seemed to be a groin problem late on Thursday’s (July 10, 2025), with Stokes receiving on-field remedy earlier than he batted on till the shut.
England have been 251-4 at stumps, with Joe Root 99 not out and Stokes, who gained the toss, unbeaten on 39.
The 34-year-old Stokes’s profession has been blighted by accidents, with a longstanding knee downside requiring an operation in 2023, whereas the all-rounder has suffered two severe hamstring tears through the previous eight months.
In an encouraging growth for the aspect, Stokes has been capable of function as a absolutely fledged all-rounder in latest video games after his health points restricted his influence as a vigorous seamer.
But such is his significance to the stability of the crew, with England presently 1-1 in a marquee sequence at dwelling towards India as they construct in direction of a showpiece Ashes tour of Australia, that crew chiefs will hope Thursday’s incident is merely a minor downside.
“Fingers crossed it’s nothing too serious and he can do something magic and come back strong,” mentioned England vice-captain Ollie Pope. “We’ll see how he pulls up tomorrow (Friday).
“We’ve got a big Test over the next four days and we’ve got a big two coming up after that so it’s important to try and manage him.
“That’s one of my roles, to make sure he doesn’t push himself to a ridiculous place with whatever he’s dealing with at the moment.
“I’m sure the physios and medics will work with him to lay out a plan and I’ll help push him in the right direction,” added Pope, who made 44 on Thursday.
Play ended with Root only one run shy of his thirty seventh Test hundred and a record-extending eighth such century at Lord’s.
Pope, nonetheless, doesn’t count on the star batsman to undergo too many nerves in a single day.
“Obviously he’d have loved to have a hundred red (not out), but he’s got 36 of them, so I don’t think he’ll be too sleepless,” mentioned Pope. “He’ll get his head down.
“It would have been nice to see him get it tonight but he’ll be looking at the bigger picture and trying to make it a monster innings. Hopefully we can kick on and get 400, towards 500.”
