
Ben Stokes says ‘there probably will be a decision to make' with third Test team
Within an hour of India levelling the series 1-1 with a thumping 336-run win in the second Rothesay Test, England added Surrey quick Atkinson to their squad for next week's clash at Lord's.
He is fit again after injuring his hamstring against Zimbabwe in May and could line up for the first time with Archer, who has been training with the team in Birmingham and is primed for a first Test appearance in more than four years.
Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue are the likeliest players to stand down after sharing a big workload in the first two games against India.
Stokes may also be hoping changes help unsettle opponents who have racked up 1,849 runs in four innings and celebrated seven centuries along the way.
Having sent India in on the first morning in Birmingham he saw them go from 211 for five to 587 all out, to claim a commanding position they never relinquished.
'At 200 for five we were happy but we just weren't able to blast them open,' he said after his side were dismissed for 271 on the final day.
'They ended up getting a big first innings total after us having a good start. I think if we'd been able to burst them open when we did have them five down then the game would potentially have played out a little bit differently.
'It's no secret that we have spent some time in the field and bowled some overs in the first two games so we'll have to see how everyone pulls up over the next two days. With it being a quick turnaround there probably will be a decision we have to make.'
Whoever is chosen at headquarters, one of the main tasks will be finding a weakness in the armoury of new India captain Shubman Gill. He has now scored 585 runs in the series at an average of 146.25 and is in with a shout of Sir Don Bradman's magic number of 974 – the most runs ever scored by one batter in a series.
'He's had some two games, hasn't he?' Stokes acknowledged with a wry smile.
'You've got got to give your opposition credit when it's due and for him to bang out as many runs as he has done in this game has been pretty special.'
England are set for two days off before reconvening on Wednesday, training once at Lord's before resuming hostilities, and Stokes is content they will do so with a clean slate.
'We've had some unbelievable wins and some bad defeats and I feel this team is quite good at staying level throughout those ups and downs,' he said.
'We knew coming into the series it wasn't going to be easy, that there were going to be ebbs and flows because it's two very good teams. We have to wipe this one under the carpet as quickly as we can because Lord's day one will be coming round pretty quickly.'
Gill is looking forward to it after enjoying his first success as India skipper, adding: 'There's no bigger honour than to captain your country in a Test match at Lord's.
'I am definitely feeling comfortable with my game and if we are able to win the series with my contributions, that will be great.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Aussie who made soccer history when he came out as gay reveals his huge life change - with a touch of mystery
A-League star Josh Cavallo has revealed he is relocating to the United Kingdom with his fiancé - but his sporting future remains unknown. Cavallo, 25, rose to international prominence in 2021 when he became the first openly gay male footballer actively playing in a top-flight league. At the time, the Adelaide United defender stated he didn't want to feel ashamed about his sexuality and was exhausted after trying to live a 'double life'. Taking to Instagram on Monday, Cavallo told his 1.1 million followers he is looking forward to living in England. 'It's not goodbye forever but now, it's time to leave the nest with my fiancé by my side,' his post began. 'Football and life have taken me further than I ever imagined, and new opportunities have led to a new life waiting for us across the world. Taking to Instagram on Monday, Cavallo (pictured right with Morrell) told his 1.1 million Instagram followers he is looking forward to living in England 'I never imagined that living my truth would unlock doors from the pitch to every corner of my personal life. 'Whether you've followed my journey from the beginning or found strength in it along the way, your presence has meant more than words can ever say. 'Especially to the LGBTQ+ community, you are the reason I never gave up. 'You helped me see that I wasn't alone and that none of us are. For the boy who once looked in the mirror and questioned why he was different, this is proof that you can find your place in this world.' The first professional player to come out while still playing was Britain's Justin Fashanu in 1990, but he never found acceptance in the game and tragically took his own life in 1998. Once he made his announcement, Cavallo received support on social media from the likes of Matildas skipper Sam Kerr, ex-Barcelona defender Gerard Pique and former England striker Gary Lineker. He also labelled the support from Adelaide United teammates and officials 'immense', before adding he wanted to be a positive role model for gay footballers. 'It's OK to be gay and play football - I want to show all the other people who are struggling and are scared,' Cavallo said. The left back came through the youth ranks at Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City before securing an A-League move to Western United in 2019. He played 10 matches for the Green and Black before signing a short contract with Adelaide United in 2021. In May, Adelaide United confirmed Cavallo was departing the club, labelling their former star a 'symbol of courage, authenticity and positive change.' Daily Mail Australia reached out to Cavallo and Wax - who manage the athlete - regarding any potential football opportunities abroad.


The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘He looks sure to score at his beloved track' – Templegate's NAP unstoppable on Tuesday
TEMPLEGATE tackles Tuesday's action confident of building the bank for the Newmarket July Festival. Back a horse by clicking their odds below. TIME PATROL (7.12 Brighton, nap) He can notch up yet another win at his beloved Brighton. Tony Carroll's five-year-old has landed three victories from four visits to the seaside and came home quickly when just denied here last time. The handicapper has left his mark alone and he takes a drop in class which can get him back to winning ways. He gets on well with today's rider Jack Doughty and decent ground is ideal. CRYSTAL MER (8.30 Uttoxeter, nb) He looked a cut above when bolting up over course and distance last month and can strike again under champion jockey Sean Bowen. The six-year-old powered clear with loads in hand that day and still looks well treated for Hughie Morrison who rarely misses when targeting these races. That was his debut for the yard and there's a lot more to come. SHADY BAY (7.42 Brighton, treble) She caught the eye with a five-length win at Nottingham last time out. She showed a blistering turn of pace there and clearly enjoyed dropping to this distance. She is back out quickly under a 5lb penalty and has a big chance of following up under Hollie Doyle. COMMAND THE STARS (4.25 Lingfield, Lucky 15) He showed bundles of promise on debut and then absolutely bolted up at Beverley, pulling four lengths clear despite still running green. That performance marked him out as well above average and this step up to 7f is sure to suit given his stout Sea The Stars pedigree. Templegate's tips Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:


Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Man United 'end £10m talks with streaming giant' over behind-the-scenes documentary - with Ruben Amorim role key as 'reasons for axing plans are revealed'
Manchester United have 'pulled the plug on a fly-on-the-wall documentary that would have banked them more than £10million'. United had been in talks with Amazon over being the latest side in their All or Nothing series and they were locked in negotiations for months. But according to The Athletic, the club decided on balance that the intrusion could negatively impact performances on the pitch. They report that Ruben Amorim was not comfortable with the arrangement - despite the temptation to cash in with what would have been the highest amount paid for an All or Nothing series. Time pressure of the upcoming campaign and commercial reasons were reportedly other key factors, but ultimately without Amorim's support there was no progress to be made. Opening up United to the cameras during what is a turbulent time at Old Trafford could have made for compelling viewing. Amorim has made his feelings known on Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford, with the Portuguese manager not one to pull punches. United endured an awful season after Amorim took over from sacked Erik ten Hag, leading them to 15th in the Premier League. Missing out on the Champions League by losing the Europa League final against Tottenham was also a massive blow, especially financially. There was support for the documentary from the commercial department but only if the football department agreed. Chief executive Omar Berrada was also said to be on board with the Amazon proposal. The fact that United were happy to go with Amorim's view of a distracting, negative impact shows they are putting their full weight behind him. The club have already signed Matheus Cunha and are closing in on Bryan Mbeumo - two additions who should in theory make United markedly stronger. There remains an issue with outgoings, with Rashford and Garnacho among those the club desperately want to move on. Netflix, Amazon and Disney all reached out to United with interest in making a documentary following a revival under Sir Jim Ratcliffe. But given the poor start to INEOS' stewardship, it is perhaps no surprise there is an unwillingness to push for the access-all-areas show. So far, there have been more than 450 redundancies at the club and Ratcliffe claimed they were in danger of going out of business back in March without his deeply unpopular cost-cutting methods.