Ben Stokes tight-lipped about batting form chatter, promises strong response at Lord’s-OxBig News Network

England captain Ben Stokes has promised a strong response from the home side in the third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, set to be played at Lord’s, London from 10 to 14 July.** Stokes insisted that England have never taken India lightly and vowed that his team would come hard at the visitors in a bid to edge ahead in what has been a closely contested series.

After winning the opening Test in Leeds with a record chase of 371, England were thoroughly outplayed in the second Test in Birmingham, suffering a 336-run defeat. Their bowling lacked bite, and their batters failed to cope with the pace duo of Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill produced a record-breaking display with the bat, scoring 269 and 161, as England struggled to contain the Indian fightback on a flat pitch at Edgbaston.

To reinforce their bowling attack, England have recalled Jofra Archer to the XI. The express pacer, who has endured a series of injuries, returns to the Test team after a four-year absence.

“This was always going to be a series with ebbs and flows – two strong teams going at each other. We came out on top at Headingley; they did at Edgbaston. I don’t think we feel we’ve got the edge over anyone – we respect our opponents at all times. But we’ll come out hard this week looking for a win,” Stokes told the media on the eve of the Lord’s Test.

England have shown resilience in the past, frequently bouncing back from setbacks without abandoning their aggressive approach. However, Lord’s has not been a particularly successful venue for them in recent years, especially against teams from the subcontinent. India have recorded victories at Lord’s in both 2014 and 2021.

A BIG SCORE AT LORD’S

Meanwhile, Ben Stokes remained guarded when asked about his own form with the bat.

Stokes has endured a lean run in Test cricket over the last two years. In 2024, he played 13 Tests and scored just 602 runs at an average of 28.66. His form in 2025 has dipped further, with only 95 runs in three Tests at an average of 19.00.

His lack of runs has come under increasing scrutiny, with former cricketers questioning his contributions. The contrast with India’s captain, Shubman Gill – who has been breaking records with ease – has only added to the pressure. Stokes has not crossed the 40-run mark even once in the ongoing series.

However, he may draw inspiration from his second-innings century at this very venue during the 2023 Ashes.

“That was two years ago, so I’m pretty much over that now. But yes, hopefully there’s another big score just around the corner,” Stokes said, adding that he was feeling good about his workload and current rhythm with the bat.

DUKES BALL A CONCERN?

Stokes also echoed Shubman Gill’s concerns over the condition of the Dukes ball, which has gone soft far earlier than expected during the series. His remarks came a day after the manufacturer of the Dukes ball defended the product, instead suggesting that the blame lay with bowling units and unresponsive pitches.

“Yeah, look. We’re not the only ones – whenever touring teams come here, there have been issues with the ball going soft and out of shape. I’m not even sure the rings we use are the standard Dukes rings,” Stokes said.

“It’s not ideal, but you deal with it. If you think the ball is out of shape, you ask the umpire to check it, and if it passes through the ring, you just crack on. If it doesn’t – once it’s sufficiently out of shape – you get a new one. It was definitely an issue at Edgbaston, and it’s something all bowling attacks have had to contend with.”

England will be hoping for a pitch that offers more to the bowlers after two matches on batter-friendly surfaces. However, the bigger question may be whether their batting line-up can withstand the threat posed by India’s pace attack, which will be strengthened by the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the Birmingham Test.

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