The second Test between England and India is all set to begin on July 7. Meanwhile, India lost the first Test in Leeds. However,  Ben Stokes, the England captain, welcomed the break as he believes having a time off after a hard-working first Test, especially for the bowlers, would be helpful.

“I think the time off in between games is so, so important. That’s where you recharge for it, where you get yourself back into a position to deal with pressure again. We went all the way to the end of last week. The most important thing for us as a group, and also for the bowlers in particular, was getting them (ready), for Wednesday, (ensuring) that they’re fresh,” he said.

“We’ve had training on Sunday scheduled, but because we bowled so much and spent so much time in the field, we felt that extra day off was the most important thing to make sure that when we turn up on Wednesday we’re not too overcooked again. Bowlers bowl their overs in the field for a long time. So, yeah, as much as training is where you try and get yourself better, time off and recharging the batteries and getting the body pressure going, that should never be underestimated, especially in a five-match series. Particularly when games two and three are back to back,” said Ben Stokes again.

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Speaking about his fitness, Ben Stokes, who bowled 20 overs in the first innings of the opening Test, followed by 15 more in the second innings, said that he felt in good shape ahead of the second game as well.

“I feel better now than I did on Thursday and Friday. Yeah, I think everyone was very tired that week. I used the three days after that game to offer absolutely nothing to the world. I was a shadow of myself, but it goes to show how much a five-day Test match takes out of you. I was pretty tired, but I’m all over that now and ready to go tomorrow,” said Stokes.

“Yeah, I felt very good going into the game. I did everything possible to not worry about anything outside of what we normally worry about. But coming out of that game, feeling good in all of my spells, rhythm-wise, being able to back up spells throughout the day. But I managed to maintain my pace, which was one of the things I wanted to concentrate on. But yeah, it’s all coming out nicely. It was a good week last week,” Ben Stokes concluded.