India vs England | Ben Stokes’ return increases selection headache for England ahead of deciding match

India vs England | Ben Stokes’ return increases selection headache for England ahead of deciding match

England all-rounder Ben Stokes' return after healing from his hamstring injury has increased England's selection woes ahead of the deciding T20l scheduled to be played on Sunday. Stokes had to sit out of the one-day series against Australia preceding the Indian tour with his injury.

It was during the lead-up to the second Test match against Pakistan when Stokes had suffered a hamstring injury that rendered him incapable of participating in the series against Australia. After the injury kept him out of the series against Australia, Stokes made a comeback for Durham against Yorkshire on July 5 scoring a brilliant 90 in 68 balls.

The second T20I saw India struggling against England bowlers in the different conditions of Cardiff. England have more or less got a set team with a batting order that can bat deep and with some ferocious strike bowlers in Liam Plunkett and David Willey. The addition of Stokes would definitely enrich the team but would also mean dropping a piece of a beautifully set puzzle.

Stokes has been named in the squad, which will be playing against India in the ODI series, but it remains to be seen if he gets picked for the crucial, deciding T20l. Stokes being fit from injury will be a threat for Alex Hales and Jake Ball and Hales has stated that Stokes returning after his injury has made his place in the squad vulnerable. However, leveling the series with a superb unbeaten 58 has surely done him good and the selectors would think multiple times before taking him out.

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