EXCLUSIVE
Steve Harmison impressed by Ben Stokes’ bowling return despite England captain breaking ‘pinky promise’
Steve Harmison has praised England captain Ben Stokes, saying the all-rounder looked 'very, very strong' in his return to bowling for the first time since July.
It was a dream comeback for Stokes, who entered the attack in the 62nd over and clean bowled Rohit Sharma with his very first ball in 251 days.
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It was a silver lining in an otherwise miserable day for England, as India piled on the runs with both Rohit and Shubman Gill making their second centuries of the series.
Stokes had “pinky promised” his physio that he wouldn’t bowl in this series after undergoing knee surgery following the World Cup in November.
But his recovery went better than expected and following the third Test in Rajkot, Stokes, who has long suffered with knee injuries, opened the door to bowling before the series was out.
“I have managed to get my first bowl at 100 per cent in the warm-up,” Stokes said. “I'm not going to lie, I feel really great.
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"I felt like I could have bowled in this game but that would have been stupid.I have a whole body to get used to bowling again.
"As a person I like to jump the gun a little bit but things are feeling really good. It's not a yes - but it's not a no either. I have progressed a lot faster than I thought I would.”
Stokes resisted bowling in the fourth Test, but with England in a desperate position on day two in Dharamsala he brought himself into the attack for the first time and immediately broke Rohit and Shubman’s 171 run partnership.
“It was a brilliant ball,” said Harmison on talkSPORT 2’s live and exclusive coverage. “What I’m most pleased about most of all is - and I’m apprehensive of Ben bowling and watching through the gaps of my fingers - is his actual bowling technique is very very strong. Very good. His run-up is very good, his action is excellent and so is his landing. There’s no moving parts.
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“It’s always a danger when a bowler comes back and they start protecting other parts of the body. His action looks really really strong which I’m so pleased about.”
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