Tough decision for me to replace Sam Curran with Ben Stokes, says Joe Root

The Surrey all-rounder made his Test debut by replacing Stokes in the Leeds Test against Pakistan earlier this English summer and in the three games that he has played so far, he has picked up eight wickets and averages a tad over 36 with the bat as well bat which includes a crucial fifty in the Birmingham Test of the ongoing series. Although the case against Stokes at Bristol Crown Court came to an end with a unanimous decision that he was found “not guilty”, there are matters to tend to and the story is not over yet. 

With these issues still there, Root was asked about Stokes’ selection and he replied, “That was a decision made above our heads. He has been made available for selection. Probably one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make as captain," said Root.

"He has been a fine performer for us for a long period of time. You don't want to leave someone like Ben out. He offers so much to this group on and off the field. He is a big part of our team and I can see him putting in just as he always does and he has the ability to change the game. Hopefully, that can be the case this week," the English skipper added.

The English captain also spoke about his conversation with Stokes and said that he is in a right frame of mind and eager to resume from where he had left off in the Edgbaston Test, where he played a crucial role in England edging India ahead.

"I asked him where he was at and he told me he was desperate to get out there," said Root.

Stokes did address the team when he returned last Thursday but Root decided not to reveal much about what happened in the discussion. However, the English skipper clarified that the team management has properly assessed the fitness level of Stokes.

Speaking about Curran and his frame of mind after being replaced with Stokes, Root said, “He took it extremely well. Very mature for a young guy who is desperate to play and has come in and made a really impressive part to his Test career.”

"But he's offered so much to this bowling group - and at the start of the series I said to the team for us to win a five-match series against the best side in the world, it's going to take more than just 11 players. He has played a massive part in the first two. It might be that he comes back in later on. So ultimately, it's about us as a squad delivering over a five to six-week period - and on this occasion, he's unfortunate to miss out,” the English skipper added.