Daijiworld Media Network – London
London, Jul 11: Tension gripped the England camp on the opening day of the third Test against India at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground as captain Ben Stokes appeared to suffer a groin injury, casting doubt over his availability for the remainder of the match. The injury scare came late on Thursday as the all-rounder was seen receiving on-field treatment but bravely continued batting till stumps.
At the close of Day 1, England stood at 251/4, with Joe Root unbeaten on 99 and skipper Stokes on 39 not out, after electing to bat first.
The 34-year-old England captain has endured a series of injuries in recent years — notably a knee surgery in 2023 and two hamstring injuries in the past eight months. His return to full all-rounder duties in recent Tests had lifted England’s spirits, but Thursday's incident may again throw the team's balance into question.
With the highly anticipated series against India locked at 1-1, and an Ashes tour to Australia on the horizon, team management is keen to ensure Stokes' fitness is managed carefully.
Speaking after the day’s play, vice-captain Ollie Pope expressed cautious optimism:
“Fingers crossed it’s nothing too serious and he can do something magic and come back strong. We’ll see how he pulls up tomorrow.”
Pope emphasized the need to protect Stokes from pushing himself too hard, stating:
“One of my roles is to make sure he doesn’t push himself to a ridiculous place with whatever he’s dealing with. I’m sure the physios and medics will work with him to lay out a plan.”
Pope, who contributed 44 runs on Thursday, also shared his thoughts on Joe Root's near-century, saying the former skipper wouldn’t be too affected by being stranded on 99 overnight.
“He’s got 36 Test hundreds. I don’t think he’ll lose sleep over this one. He’ll come back fresh, looking to convert it into a big innings.”
England will aim to build on their strong foundation on Day 2, with hopes of posting a total around 400–500, and pray their inspirational leader Ben Stokes recovers quickly.