Stokes on Ranchi pitch: Don’t know what could happen

Ranchi: England captain Ben Stokes added intrigue to the discussion surrounding the Ranchi pitch for the upcoming fourth Test against India, expressing his astonishment at the unprecedented nature of the 22-yard strip.

As India leads the five-match series 2-1, the condition of the pitch has taken center stage in the prelude to the penultimate Test, starting here on Friday. England batter Ollie Pope’s description of “platey cracks” on the pitch has fueled anticipation.

“It looked interesting, didn’t it? I don’t know. I can’t say much. I don’t know, I’ve never seen something like that before so I have no idea. I don’t know what could happen,” Stokes was quoted saying to ESPNCricinfo.

Offering insight into the peculiar appearance of the pitch, Stokes remarked, “If you looked down one side of opposite ends, it just looked different to what I am used to seeing, especially out in India. It looked green and grassy up in the changing-rooms, but then you go out there, it looked different. Very dark and crumbly and quite a few cracks in it.”

The visitors have made two changes in the playing XI for the Ranchi Test, with Ollie Robinson and Shoaib Bashir replacing Rehan Ahmed and Mark Wood.

(with PTI inputs)