A string of injuries has prevented Ben Stokes from bowling in international cricket since the Lord’s Test match of June 2023. As captain, talismanic batter, and ace fielder, he is one of the most important cricketers in the side, but bowling has been a part of his legacy as well.

The unavailability of Stokes as a bowler did not prevent England from winning Test matches, however – they have won three of the four games since the Lord’s Test – but his bowling will certainly add an extra dimension.

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England came from two-down to level the home Ashes in the summer of 2023. Six months later, they beat India in the first Test of the five-match series, at Hyderabad.

Ahead of the second Test match, from February 2 at Visakhapatnam, Stokes took the ball in the nets. There was no batter, and Stokes came off two paces and bowled on a length.

While far from being a full run-up, it was still Stokes bowling, much to the delight of England fans.

Stokes is three wickets short of the 200-mark in Test cricket. When he gets there, he will become only the third cricketer – after Garry Sobers and Jacques Kallis – to the 6,000 runs-200 wickets double.

Watch Ben Stokes bowl in the nets on the eve of the second Test match:

Stokes bowling again. Long way to go. But progress. pic.twitter.com/SfoNqz1eee

— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) February 1, 2024