ENG vs IND 2025: 'He didn't listen to me when I was captain' - Joe Root discusses Ben Stokes' long spells in Lord's Test

Joe Root said that Ben Stokes has always had a penchant for bowling long spells and that he struggled to get the ball out of his hands even when he was the captain of the England Test team.

The star all-rounder bowled 9.2-over spell in the morning session on Day 5 of the third Test between England and India at the Lord's Cricket Ground and another 10 overs in the afternoon. On Day 3, head coach Brendon McCullum had to send England's pace bowling consultant Tim Southee to tell Stokes to take himself out of the attack. In the end, the talismanic England skipper bowled a total of 44 overs, the most by a bowler during the Lord's Test.

Root, however, mentioned that Stokes knows his body well and lauded him for his effort at the Home of Cricket against Shubman Gill and Co. as the hosts won the Test match by 22 runs on Monday, July 14.

"He doesn't always listen to me. He didn't listen to me when I was captain. But, no, he knows what he's doing and he's got a good handle on where he's at physically. It was an incredible effort," Root said while speaking to BBC.

"He's just desperate to be the man and make things happen. Incredible effort to be able to do that," the star England batter added.

It's a great sign for us moving forward: Joe Root

Stokes recently sustained a hamstring tear and his workload management, especially on the bowling front, has been a concern for England. However, Root believes that Stokes being able to bowl long spells is a great sign for England ahead of their tough assignments coming up in red-ball cricket.

Lack of intent from Bumrah costed India the game: Gibbs

Also Read

Lack of intent from Bumrah costed India the game: Gibbs

"I was just panicking that he wasn't going to make it through the game after a couple of bad injuries, but he clearly trusts his body now. It's a great sign for us moving forward. I mean it really is isn't it, because that's back to his best," Root stated.