It's Always A Miss Whenever He's Not Playing, Says Joe Root As Ben Stokes Is All Set To Miss Second Test Due To Trials
Credits: Getty

England skipper Joe Root said the rise of Sam Curran would make for the absence for the absence of Ben Stokes for the upcoming second Test after the former’s performance in the first England vs India Test.

At 141 for 6 while chasing 194, India were slightly ahead in the game because of Virat Kohli’s presence. The India skipper had scored a majestic ton in the first innings and had just crossed his fifty in the second. Root then decided to introduce Stokes in the attack hoping for a miracle. And Stokes did not let his skipper down.

Ben Stokes, Joe Root, England vs India First Test
Ben Stokes wants to be involved in the big moments: Joe Root (England vs India First Test, Credits: Getty)

England knew that Kohli was the difference between win and a loss. The formula was simple for them – Get Kohli, win the game. And Stokes did exactly that. In his very first over, he forced the India star to make one mistake which sealed the visitors’ fate. Kohli played outside the line, slightly across it, with a slightly closed face and was pinned lbw. Three balls later, Stokes dismissed Mohammed Shami to put England well on top.

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Hardik Pandya threatened to take the game close. However, Stokes fitting closed the game by sending him back.

Speaking at the post-conference, Root hailed Stokes’ knack of delivering on the big occasions.

“Stokesy’s got that knack, hasn’t he?” said Root. “He wants to be involved in the big moments of the game and he did just that today.”

The end of the game would have been a bittersweet moment for the allrounder. Stokes will miss out on the upcoming Lord’s Test as he is due at Bristol Crown Court to stand trial, charged with affray.

Root, however, insisted that the developments have not affected Stokes.

“Ben seems himself. He’s gone about things exactly how he was in every other game. And I don’t see that ever changing. When he turns up to practise or as soon as he puts on an England shirt he’s so dedicated to this group of players to this team. And whatever happens going forward he’s going to be a big part of this dressing room,” said the captain.

Ben Stokes, Joe Root, England vs India First Test
Ben Stokes’ absence is always a miss: Joe Root (England vs India First Test, Credits: Getty)

Root further said that England will miss their inspirational allrounder. At the same time, he made it clear that the team has the bench strength to replace Stokes.

“It’s always a miss whenever he’s not playing. But we’ve got a good group of players underneath this side who have got an opportunity. Whoever it is to come in and put in a really strong Test performance. So I’ll have to sit down with the selection group and think clearly about what’s the right squad for that surface at Lord’s and then pick accordingly,” he said.

Well, England might not need to look very far. Their selection matters will be eased by the rise of Sam Curran. The Surrey allrounder received the man of the match award – the first England player aged under 21 to earn the honour in Tests – for his stunning all round performance. He picked up 5 wickets in the game and scored a decisive 63 in the second innings.

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Root believes in Curran, they have a handy replacement for Stokes.

“The reason Sam’s played is firstly for his performances that he’s put in for Surrey. He’s made some big contributions for his county side and a big part of that team and whenever he’s been around, whenever you watch him operate on the field he has this desire and steeliness within him which, similar to Ben, wants to be involved in the big occasions and that obviously suits playing in Test match cricket and you’ve seen that throughout this game.

Ben Stokes, Joe Root, England vs India First Test
Joe Root is hopeful Sam Curran would fill the void left by Ben Stokes (England vs India First Test, Credits: Getty)

“I don’t want him to blush too much, but that was a fantastic performance to come into his second Test match under pressure and against the number one test team in the world and play like that. Obviously it’s very exciting for us as a side going into a five match series like that should fill him with a huge amount of confidence for the rest of this series,” he said.

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