The five-match series begins Thursday with the first Test in Hyderabad. McCullum stopped short of confirming Stokes as a definite starter but said he has “put all the work in.”
Ben Stokes looks ready to lead England at the launch of its Test justice series against India, with trainer Brendon McCullum saying Monday his captain “ looks like a greyhound. ”
“He’s stripping fit, ” McCullum said of Stokes, who passed knee surgery at the end of November after playing for England at the Cricket World Cup.
The five- match series begins Thursday with the first Test in Hyderabad. McCullum stopped suddenly of attesting Stokes as a definite starter but said he has “ put all the work in. ”
“He’s put the hard work in and everyone knows his work heritage is phenomenal, ” McCullum said. “ I ’ve seen him running around and I suppose he’s good to go. We ’ll obviously make that call as late as what we need to. ”
Stokes isn’t ready to renew brushing so will be a specialist batter, if he plays.
It’ll be England’s first Test match in nearly six months and it’s quite the challenge, with the Indians having lost just three matches out of 46 since they were last beaten in a home series — to England in 2012.
McCullum said he’s willing to be “ really stalwart ” with his selection on a pitch that’s anticipated to offer plenitude of turn, with England having brought an inexperienced spin unit featuring apprentices Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir alongside the established Jack Leach.
“India is the land of occasion and that’s what sits in front of us now, ” McCullum said.
“We ’ll take the positive option. Other brigades might be better, but we want to be the bold. We ’ve got to do that and that’s got to be regard into selection, too. ”
With Harry Brook absent for particular reasons, England seems set to restore Ben Foakes as wicketkeeper. Jonny Bairstow could also take the gloves but might be a specialist batter.
McCullum made no justifications for his decision to host a training camp in Abu Dhabi rather than play prologue games on Indian soil.
“The medication was brilliant. The installations out there are as good as anywhere in the world, ” he said. “ The guys walked down from Abu Dhabi with a huge quantum of confidence that we ’ve prepared as well as we conceivably can. In the end all you ’re trying to do is get guys in the frame of mind where they feel 10- bottom altitudinous and bulletproof when they walk out to play. ”
India will be without star batter Virat Kohli for the first two Tests for particular reasons. Know More Latest Cricket News…
