IND vs ENG | ‘Gruelling collection, uneven gaps’: Ben Stokes slams scheduling after injury rules him out of Oval decider | Cricket News – Times of India

Ben Stokes (Pic credit score: Sahil Malhotra/TimesofIndia.com)

TimesofIndia.com in London: England captain Ben Stokes has been dominated out of the fifth and last Test in opposition to India at The Oval resulting from a proper shoulder injury, however his absence didn’t cease him from making a powerful assertion in regards to the demanding schedule of the collection. England, main 2-1, introduced 4 modifications to their XI for the finale beginning Thursday, however the focus of the pre-match dialogue was Stokes’ blunt criticism of the match planning and its toll on each groups.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Disappointed to not finish the series. I have a decent tear in the muscle I can’t pronounce,” Stokes mentioned within the press convention. “Will start rehabbing now for the winter. I was going to put my feet up anyway after the series, so it doesn’t matter.”

While admitting the bodily calls for are half of the sport, Stokes didn’t maintain again on the scheduling imbalance. “The gaps between games could have been better. There were gaps of 8-9 days between matches and then 3-4 days as well. You could make it a 4-5 days gap between matches maybe, so there’s that consistency,” he mentioned. “It’s been tough for both teams — a lot of overs bowled, a lot of time spent on the field. But maybe if you had 4-5 day gaps, you could have had the same amount of time in the series.”

He additional added: “Gaps between matches could have been say 4-5 days. It’s been hard for both teams.”England’s revamped XI consists of Jacob Bethell at No.6 and pacers Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, and Josh Tongue. Spinner Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, and Brydon Carse make manner. On Dawson’s exclusion, Stokes mentioned, “The Oval is where seamers pick most wickets. Lots more live grass on this pitch.”Addressing the handshake controversy in Manchester, Stokes mentioned: “I understand why Jadeja and Sundar wanted to get their 100s but I was not going to bowl my bowlers. We are over it, India are over it. Let’s not focus on those 20 minutes, it has been a great series.”On the collection as an entire, he mirrored: “It’s been a big toll on the body. Physically it’s tiring but the mental side too. Tough, gruelling series but a test of character and physicality. The way both teams have fought shows how much the format means for India and England.”On the pitch controversy involving India coach Gautam Gambhir and floor employees, Stokes remarked curtly, “I don’t know, I wasn’t here.”

England Playing XI for fifth Test