BAZMAULED

Ben’s back with a bang but England suffer

- DAVID CHARLESWORTH

BEN STOKES shone a small ray of light on another torrid time for England by bagging a wicket with his first ball in 251 days in Dharamsala. 

England appeared bereft after a wicketless first session on day two of the fifth Test as hundreds from Rohit Sharma (103) and Shubman Gill (110) carried India into a position of outright dominance.

Stokes had one trump card left and used it in the second over after lunch, bowling competitively for the first time since July 1 last year and producing a beauty which thudded into Rohit’s off stump.

India closed on 473-8 and a lead of 255 after England fought back in the final session, while Stokes’ instant impact and his five-over spell, which yielded 1-17, augurs well.