Broken Ben Stokes steps aside as England prodigy Jacob Bethell takes the stage in India series finale

Jacob Bethell comes into the England side to face India - (PA)

The news filtered through on Wednesday morning just as bleary-eyed journalists were shuffling around The Oval’s perimeter towards an underground press room. Ben Stokes was out. England were heading into the heat of battle in this decisive fifth Test without their warrior captain.

In walked Stokes looking like a Viking god, blonde locks slicked back, calves chiselled out of stone, to explain why he could give no more to this absorbing series against India. “I’m very disappointed. It’s a decent tear to one of the muscles that I can’t pronounce. We took as long as we could to make the decision.”