Ben Stokes Felt Like a Shadow After First India Test But Now Fully Recharged

The game of Test cricket is brutal. It tests you for five days, and once you're finished, it tests you again. For England recording skipper Ben Stokes, the first Test against India was a rude reminder of just how brutal Test cricket is.

Stokes emerged absolutely shattered, feeling like a shell of himself. However, after a much-needed break and a new perspective on his fitness, Stokes is back, and ready to captain his side.

The Grueling First Test for Ben Stokes

The first match of the series at Headingley was a real war of attrition. Retaining the Ashes in the summer, England won the match, but emerged victorious at a cost - especially for the captain. Stokes had to put in a hefty amount of work with ball in hand during the contest. He bowled 35 overs, a big innings for any player in a Test match.

This mammoth effort left Stokes drained. After the match, Stokes was so fatigued that he had to stay in bed for two days, as he was exhausted from bowling almost 300 deliveries. Mentally, he also felt completely exhausted after the Test match. "I felt like a shadow of my normal self" Stokes said after his eight over representatives.

It wasn't just Stokes who felt the drain from the five days of testing cricket, Brydon Carse and other players, felt the extreme fatigue which comes from Test cricket.

This demonstrated the absolute commitment the players displayed in aiming for the win for their country.

Ben Stokes: A Change of Fortunes at Edgbaston

Following the high of winning the first Test Match, when the players received a hero's welcome at Headingley, the second Test Match at Edgbaston was at the other end of the spectrum. India showed brilliance and won the match convincingly by 336 runs, thus leveling the series at 1-1.

At the toss, and probably reflecting the Headingley test win, Stokes opted to bowl first. It had worked in Headingley but not as well here. India did well with the bat, and England found themselves chasing a daunting set of runs. Stokes has also had a rough time with the bat in this Test Series.

His batting scores in the first two tests went like this: 20, 33, 0, and 33. Stokes will have wished for more than just those scores. Against the Indian spinners in particular he has found it really difficult to score a run.

England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, James Anderson, Washington Sundar.

India XI: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Mohammed Shami.

Ben Stokes faced a very challenging week as England captain with both a loss and problems with his own form. The pitch at Edgbaston was also discussed. Stokes noted that as the match progressed the pitch started to play more like you would expect on the subcontinent, which helped India's bowlers.

Ben Stokes and the Path to Recovery

With all this in mind, Ben Stokes has been working hard to get back to his best.

Although his journey to feel recharged began well before this series. After an injury, he choose to stop drinking alcohol in January to help recovery and be as fit as possible.

Stokes had hamstring surgery and wanted to give himself as much good juju to perform for England during the series.

This choice to emphasize fitness shows his commitment. Stokes knows he must train hard away from the cricket field to perform at his peak on it.

He spends a lot of time in the gym, ensuring his body is ready for the rigors of Test cricket. Player fitness and form are hot topics for sports fans.

Many discussions at sports websites like Kheloexch center around Stokes and similar players while they nd to remain at the peak of their game. His attentiveness to fitness proves he is not only a captain in name, but a captain who leads by example and puts the work in.

What’s Next for the Captain?

With the series poised at 1-1 all eyes are now on what will happen in the next Test at Lord's. This Test represents a huge moment for Ben Stokes and his team. Many feel this next Test is a major test of Stokes's captaincy, and of his own personal strength, following a tumultuous first two matches in the series.

Fans, experts, and almost everyone else will be watching closely to see how England respond built on the humiliating defeat at Edgbaston. Analysis hubs in sports media in general and sites like Kheloexch360 in particular are full of opinions about how England needs to respond to get back on top .

Stokes has a clear path ahead of him. He has dealt with the physical drain of a long match, and the disappointment of defeat but his commitment to his fitness is visible as he has looked fully revitalized. The feeling that hung over him after the first Test has dissipated. He is poised to lead his team into the challenge of the remaining Tests against an excited opponent.