India v England: Ben Stokes 'good to go' for first Test, says Brendon McCullum

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Ben Stokes is yet to lose a Test series as England captain

By Stephan Shemilt
Chief cricket writer in Hyderabad

England captain Ben Stokes is "good to go" for the first Test against India in Hyderabad on Thursday, says coach Brendon McCullum.

Stokes, 32, had surgery on a long-standing left-knee problem in November.

He trained with the squad on their camp in Abu Dhabi last week, but did not bowl and is not expected to do so throughout the five-Test series.

"He looks like a greyhound. He's put the work in, everyone knows his work ethic is phenomenal," said McCullum.

England arrived in India on Sunday and trained for the first time at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on Monday.

On Stokes, McCullum added: "I've seen him running around and I think he's good to go. We'll obviously make that call as late as what we need to. But he's put all the work in, and we'll just have to wait and see."

England were without batter Harry Brook, who has returned to the UK for personal reasons, and uncapped spinner Shoaib Bashir, whose visa has been delayed.

Bashir, 20, is of Pakistani origin and currently in Abu Dhabi, accompanied by Stuart Hooper, England's managing director of cricket operations.

Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, 19, whose family are also from Pakistan, has been able to travel to India with the rest of the squad.

"Things take time, don't they?" said McCullum. "Everyone is doing what they can. It's a process we need to go through. We're pretty confident that we're close.

"The time that Bash had with the squad over in Abu Dhabi, where he fitted in seamlessly, will serve him greatly. We've also got a little bit of support out there for him so he's not on his own.

"We're hoping the news will come through today that his visa has been approved, then we'll get him to sink his teeth into this series."

Brook's departure was announced on Sunday, with the Yorkshire batter initially ruled out for the rest of the series.

England have since clarified that Brook could return to a tour that lasts until March, but in his absence Dan Lawrence arrives as replacement later on Monday.

Also on Monday, India announced that batter Virat Kohli has withdrawn from the first two Tests for personal reasons.

Without Brook, England look set to recall fit-again vice-captain Ollie Pope at number three and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, who was left out of the entire home summer.

Foakes took the gloves in practice on Monday, with Jonny Bairstow doing fielding practice seemingly in preparation to play as a specialist batter.

"Obviously our thoughts are with Harry and his family, it's a tough time," said New Zealander McCullum.

"It's a privileged position to play cricket for a living but some things are more important than that.

"We wish him all the best and hopefully the next little period for Brooky is as comfortable as it possibly can be. There's a chance he may return later in the tour but for now we just want him to be with his family and do his thing."

England have not lost a Test series since Stokes and McCullum took charge in the summer of 2022, but a tour of India is their toughest assignment to date.

India have not lost a home series since England won here in 2012. On England's past two tours, in 2016 and 2021, they have lost 4-0 and 3-1 respectively.

"That's what I love about this series - we are going to be tested, and our methods are going to be challenged and we'll see where we are at," said McCullum. "It's a pretty exciting opportunity.

"In the end all you're trying to do is get guys in the frame of mind where they're totally present in the moment, they feel 10 foot tall and bulletproof when they walk out to play. Then it's allowing their skills and their talents to come out, make quick assessments of what they need to do in the moment.

"We've got to take 20 wickets with the ball in each Test match and we've got to get one more run than them with the bat. It's not rocket science but it will be the nuances of the game, when to stick and when to twist which will be the fascinating part."

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