After England’s unsuccessful tour of India, ending with a three-day defeat in the Himalayas, Ben Stokes showed resilience and expressed that his team will gain knowledge from the disappointment of the 4-1 outcome. He emphasized that both he and his team should not be dismissed.

After the visitors were bowled out for a total of 195 runs in just 48.1 overs, resulting in a defeat of 64 runs, Stokes acknowledged his own performance, which was below average with a score of 19.9 and two outs in the fifth Test. He stated that there are two paths ahead for the team, as cricket can be a challenging and consuming sport. However, this particular tour can either lead them astray or help them improve as players.

I have been on multiple tours in India. I am certainly disappointed with my contribution to the team, but underestimating this team also means underestimating me and the consequences are your own.

“You learn from failures. Failures are an unbelievable way of showing what you’re about as a person and a team. You either let it affect you and you’re not able to climb back up that hill, or you take the failures, learn and never lose enthusiasm for what you’re trying to do.”

When asked about feeling tired, Stokes stated that he may be physically tired but mentally he is still strong. He believes that no one on the team is taking their position for granted. If anyone ever feels like they are too tired to give their all, then they may not belong in their position.

The head coach for India, Rahul Dravid, stated that even without Virat Kohli for the entire series and an injury to KL Rahul, new batters stepped up and showed a 4-1 score that demonstrated the skilled bowling attack of Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav, overpowering England’s seasoned middle order.

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These statistics show that Stokes was one of three players on the England team with 100 appearances who had uneventful tours. Bairstow faced constant obstacles after decent beginnings, while Root only regained his form towards the end of the series, scoring a century in Ranchi and 84 runs in the third innings after three underwhelming Test matches.

The choice of shots has continued to be a popular subject since Root’s reverse-ramp shot caused a collapse in Rajkot. The theme still persisted on the last day of the series, as seen by the aggressive shots that resulted in the dismissals of Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope.

Stokes explained that the team has specific strategies they attempt to execute during the game. However, these strategies can be risky and may lead to failure. After [Duckett] got out to Ashwin while trying to execute a strategy, I reminded him that getting out in that way would be frustrating. It’s important to analyze our dismissals, but ultimately, we are judged by the end result.

Stokes believes it’s premature to make any changes to the team before the upcoming summer matches against West Indies and Sri Lanka. However, it’s evident that Shoaib Bashir has made a remarkable impact with his 17 wickets in three games and a second five-wicket haul on the last day. Tom Hartley, who took 22 wickets and was instrumental in winning the match in Hyderabad, was also commended for filling in when Jack Leach was injured.

It is uncertain how much longer Jimmy Anderson will continue to play, as the 41-year-old has recently achieved 700 Test wickets. However, his average of 33 runs conceded per wicket on tour and a recent average of 50 over the past 12 months raises questions about his performance. Ben Stokes commented on Anderson’s impressive feat, stating, “Reaching 700 wickets as a fast bowler is ridiculous. We must consider the physical toll he has endured to achieve this. He is an exemplary role model for aspiring fast bowlers.”

After nine months of rest and undergoing surgery on his knee, Stokes returns to bowling. In a five-over period on the second day, he successfully bowled Sharma with his first ball. Stokes expressed his excitement to be back on the field and contributing with the ball, recognizing its importance to the team’s dynamics. He also mentioned his determination to continue working hard and fully fulfill his role as an all-rounder in the upcoming summer.

Source: theguardian.com