‘Positive sign’

England vice-captain Ollie Pope has said that Ben Stokes is giving himself “every chance” to bowl in the key fourth Test against India which starts on Friday, live on TNT Sports.

Stokes has not bowled in the previous three Test matches in India after he underwent knee surgery in November.

The England captain has also not bowled a single ball in a competitive match since the second Test against Australia in the Ashes series in July.

However, the 32-year-old has been bowling in the nets ahead of the upcoming Test and Pope believes that Stokes’ “competitive edge” could see the England skipper attempt to bowl a number of overs.

“He will see how he pulls up tomorrow,” Pope told BBC Sport. “If he’s not too sore, that’s a positive sign.”

Pope added: “He didn’t want to put himself under too much pressure early by saying he’s going to be bowling, so he’s played it day-by-day with how his knee is feeling

“I think he’s been impressed by how his knee has been going.

“He’s had a good bowl against our batters. We know what he’s like, he’s got that competitive edge. There’s every chance he’ll bowl, but he’s not confirmed it yet.”

Stokes’ return with the ball could be a huge boost for England and provide additional rest to the likes of James Anderson and Mark Wood.

Stokes only needs three wickets to become just the third man in Test cricket to reach 6,000 runs and 200 wickets after Jacques Kallis and Sir Garfield Sobers.

The pitch in Ranchi could also play a huge part in the winner of the Test with Pope explaining the key elements.

“It does look slightly different on one side of the wicket to the other,” he said.

“The cracks in the wicket aren’t just cracks, there are separate bits of ground that could open up with a lot of sun on them. The ball could deviate more off them if they open up like we expect them to.”

HOW TO WATCH INDIA V ENGLAND TEST SERIES ON TNT SPORTS

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