Stokes in as Eng seek series win

Ben Stokes will start the third Test for England against India at Trent Bridge today, just four days after being cleared of affray.

England captain Joe Root confirmed on Friday that the all-rounder would be back in the starting eleven at the expense of the unfortunate Sam Curran, who was player-of-the-match in the opening Test at Edgbaston. Stokes's return for the third Test, with England leading 2-0, was always going to be a difficult call for Root with two other all-rounders -- Curran and Chris Woakes -- in the squad playing so well.

India's head coach Ravi Shastri faces a very different problem of how to raise spirits with his team, the world's number one ranked Test side, staring at the indignity of losing the five-match series after just three Tests. In the first Test to start on a Saturday in England since they played South Africa at the Oval in 1955, India have to improve their batting urgently and will be grateful that captain Kohli is fit after suffering back spasms at Lord's.