IND vs ENG: Ben Stokes expected to be specialist batter for Test series in India, says Rob Key

England’s managing director of cricket, Rob Key, has said that Ben Stokes will play as a specialist batter in India during the Test series and will not be expected to bowl during the tour.

Stokes is all set to captain the English side as they announced the squad for the Test series on December 11. The 16-member side also contained three uncapped players in the form of Shoaib Bashir, Tom Hartley and Gus Atkinson.

England Test squad for India tour:

Ben Stokes, James Anderson, Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson*, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir*, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes (wk), Tom Hartley*, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood. (* indicates uncapped players).

Stokes is currently recovering from knee surgery, which he had undergone after England’s exit from the World Cup 2023. Stokes would provide an update that he was recovering well and also decided to skip the IPL next year.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the squad announcement, Key said that Stokes’ surgery had gone well and they expect the Test captain to be fit for the tour. England’s managing director of cricket went on to say that Stokes would not be bowling during the series.

Key said that they weren’t planning for Stokes to roll his arm over during the tour in India and it was a plan to get him back into full flow with the ball.

“His surgery has been a success, we are expecting him to be fit but we are not expecting him to be able to bowl,” said managing director of England men’s cricket Rob Key.

“We never had him down to be bowling in India. This is part of an ongoing process in terms of getting him back to bowling.”

Stokes’ bowling prowess has been reduced in recent times as he bowled just 29 overs during the Ashes 2023 series and picked up three wickets.