England Keep 'fingers Crossed' On Stokes Injury

Ollie Pope said England will support their "fingers crossed" Ben Stokes has not suffered a superior wounded aft nan skipper struggled connected nan first time of nan 3rd Test against India astatine Lord's.

Stokes appeared to acquisition a problem pinch his groin connected his correct broadside while making 39 not out, as England closed connected 251-4.

The all-rounder had curen connected nan section and hobbled betwixt nan wickets, turning down a 2nd tally successful nan last complete that would person taken Joe Root to a century. Root ended unbeaten connected 99.

England indicated location are nary plans for Stokes to person a scan overnight and nan skipper will alternatively beryllium assessed connected Friday morning.

"Fingers crossed he tin do thing magic and travel backmost strong," said vice-captain Pope.

"Clearly we've sewage a large Test complete nan adjacent 4 days and a large 2 coming up. It's important to effort to negociate him, and we'll spot really he pulls up tomorrow."

Stokes, 34, has a chequered wounded history and has only conscionable returned from hamstring surgery.

Known for pushing his assemblage to nan limits, nan Durham man has been fresh to play a afloat portion arsenic nan 4th seamer successful nan England onslaught this summer, albeit refraining from nan marathon spells that were erstwhile his trademark.

And Pope admitted 1 of his duties arsenic Stokes' lawman will beryllium to guarantee nan skipper does not do himself further harm by playing done immoderate imaginable wounded problem.

"For me, it's partially 1 of my roles to make judge he doesn't push himself to a ridiculous spot pinch immoderate he's dealing pinch astatine nan moment," added Pope.

"I'm judge nan physios and medics will activity pinch him to laic retired a scheme and I'll thief push him successful nan correct direction."

India person their ain wounded interest aft wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant spent astir of nan time disconnected nan section pursuing a rustle to his near scale finger.

Like Stokes, Pant had 1 information of curen connected nan section earlier being deed for a 2nd clip attempting a return down nan limb broadside disconnected gait bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

He was not seen aft nan 34th complete of nan day, pinch substitute Dhruv Jurel stepping successful down nan stumps and holding an fantabulous drawback to disregard Pope.

The visitors person nary plans for Pant to person an X-ray earlier nan 2nd time begins.

Pope, who was dropped disconnected his first ball, made 44 successful a third-wicket guidelines of 109 pinch Root.

On a slow transportation astatine Lord's, against immoderate fantabulous Indian bowling, England were forced to curb their attacking instincts. A run-rate of 3.02 per complete is their slowest for a full successful excess of 200 since Stokes became skipper 3 years ago.

"It's not needfully nan measurement we're utilized to going astir a first innings, but I deliberation 251-4 is simply a beautiful bully people astatine nan minute," said Pope.

"Obviously we would person liked immoderate much runs, but nan quality of nan aboveground and nan measurement nan Indian onslaught bowled was beautiful good.

"It's a time we'll take. We had to accommodate nan measurement we play, but hopefully it's a people we tin really footwear connected from tomorrow and make it northbound of 400, towards 500."