HART ATTACK

Stokes keeps faith as Indian hitmen target rookie Tom

- RORY DOLLARD

LION CUB Tom Hartley was smashed for six with his first ball in Test cricket but captain Ben Stokes refused to take a backward step.

Most cricket captains might have pulled the debutant out of the firing line but Stokes waves away convention in the same way he wields his heavy bat.

And having helped rescue England from collapse with a typically defiant 70, Stokes (hitting out, right) continued to demonstrate how he prefers to do things his way. When India began their response to England's 246 all out, he threw the ball to his novice left-arm spinner.