Ben Stokes, the England captain, found positives – including the emergence of spinners Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley – from the tour – Photo Reuters/Adnan Abidi
Ben Stokes: Write off England and Myself at Your Peril
By Will Macpherson
Ben Stokes has warned to write off England and himself “at your peril” after declaring that his side would use the pain of being dominated by India as fuel.
England stumbled to a fifth Test humbling by an innings and 64 runs inside three days to go down 4-1 in a series that they started so well with victory in the opener.
Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum oversaw a sharp upturn in England’s form when they took over in 2022, and this was their first series defeat. India have not lost a Test series at home since 2012, when Alastair Cook’s England team won here, with Stokes praising the hosts for being “much the better team” and an “absolute beast” in these conditions.
“We came here with very high hopes and confidence about what we could achieve out here and it started off very well,” he said. “But obviously losing the series 4-1, not just myself but the team are big enough to say we’ve been completely outplayed in the last four games.
“This series shouldn’t affect anything we’ve managed to achieve before this tour. It’s the first time, particularly these last four games, that this team has been dominated pretty much the whole time. We will use this as inspiration to become a better team. We will use it as inspiration to become better players. That is the mentality that we have.
“The media name ‘Bazball’ – everyone says “what is it?”. In my opinion it’s wanting to be a better player. In the face of defeat and failure, Bazball will hopefully inspire people to become better players and become even better than what we are.
“It’s making sure we are staying true to ourselves as players and as a team. It’s knowing that sometimes taking risks brings your downfall, but when there’s reason behind taking these risks that don’t quite work out, that is fine. It is a tough game, cricket, and it can eat you up, but this tour in particular [visiting India] there is always one that can lead you astray or make you a better player. I have done a lot of India tours now. I am obviously disappointed with my performance for the team, but write this team off, write me off at your own peril.
“I’m very disappointed, not only in myself but I’m disappointed for the team because of how much hard work has gone into this tour.
“[We will] use it as fuel. I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs, that’s what playing 100 Test matches throws at you. Ups and downs… and making sure that I use those down moments that I have had to maybe work even harder than what I thought I was. I always feel like I can’t work any harder, but I’ll come away from this tour and go home and work even harder than what I have done out here for the summer coming up.”
Stokes hailed the solidity of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett’s opening partnership on the tour, as well as the emergence of spinners Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley, but admitted England had to be more ruthless after squandering strong positions in both Rajkot and Ranchi.
“What India showed is that when they are ahead they can really make it count,” he said. “That is something maybe we can look at as a team if we want to grow and that is what we want to do.
“That is what the best teams in the world do. They look at things and understand how to get better and better.” - The Telegraph
