“They Create a Lot of Pressure”: England Captain Ben Stokes Acknowledges India’s Dominance After 4-1 Defeat

March 9, 2024 0 1064

England skipper Ben Stokes acknowledged his team’s weaknesses and strengths, admitting they missed crucial opportunities that ultimately led to their series defeat.

England captain Ben Stokes admitted defeat after his team was outplayed by India in the fifth and final Test at Dharamsala. The series concluded with a dominant 4-1 victory for team India.

“We have been outplayed by the better team of the series. We have a lot of cricket coming up, so we’ll look forward to that. When you look at the series as a whole, there were key moments where we weren’t able to capitalize. We all know, as individuals, where things went wrong,” admitted Stokes.

The skipper also elaborated on the challenges faced by England’s batters, particularly against India’s bowling attack.

“When India’s bowlers get on top they create a lot of pressure around the batsman. You need to find ways to break that pressure and be positive enough to take risks, even if it means getting out sometimes,” he added.

Despite the defeat, Stokes highlighted some positive takeaways for his team. The opening partnership of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett showed promise, while young spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir impressed throughout the series.

“Crawley and Duckett building a solid opening partnership, Bashir and Hartley’s exceptional performances, and Joe Root finding form towards the end are all exciting signs going into our summer,” Stokes remarked.

The England captain concluded by commending the veteran fast bowler James Anderson, “It’s amazing to be on the field with Jimmy,” Stokes said. “700 wickets for a fast bowler is phenomenal. From the start of his career to where he is now, his desire and commitment haven’t wavered. He’s also one of the fittest cricketers I’ve ever seen.” The 41-year-old achieved a remarkable milestone by claiming his 700th Test wicket during the third day’s play.

The England Cricket team will now be looking forward to making a strong statement against Pakistan in the upcoming T20 series starting on May 22nd.