Stokes has ‘no grudges’ ahead of third Test
ENGLAND’S Ben Stokes s has no qualms about playing aying against South Africa’s Kagiso agiso Rabada when the fiery duo meet again in the thirdd Test at The Oval, which starts today.
Fast bowler Rabada a was banned from the he Proteas’ 340-run serieseslevelling win at Trent Bridge ridge last week for swearing ng at Stokes after dismissing ng the all-rounder in the campaign mpaign opener at Lord’s.
His return for what t will be the 100th Test at south London ground The Oval bolsters an already imprespressive pace attack that twice bowled England out cheaplyeaply at Trent Bridge.
Stokes, no stranger to o on- field aggression himself,hims does not expect an enforced absenceabs to have a marked change on Raba Rabada’s approach, save only for a few alterations in the 22-year-old2 rising star’s choicechoi of words. “I have no b bad blood with him or any grudgesgr – if anything it just showss he cares about how heh performs,” said Stokes at an event for series sponsors Investec, a banking and assetasse management company,com at The OvalOv on Tuesday. “Unfortunately“withwi stump mics – if you are going to say something loudlyloud – it can’t be a swearword, as I know per- sonally,” he added. “I would be very surprised if he calms anything down. That is what makes him the bowler he is, it is part of his repertoire – quick and aggressive.”
Stokes (pictured, AFP) already has points against his name as a result of offences under the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct – the same cumulative procedure which led to Rabada’s one-match ban.
‘Adapting’
Meanwhile, Stokes accepted England, now all square at 1-1 in this four-match series, needed to show greater flexibility in their batting after being skittled out for just 133 in their second innings at Trent Bridge.
This led to accusations from former England captain Michael Vaughan that the side now failed to “respect” Test cricket and that their only re- sponse to tough situations with the bat was to try to hit their way out of trouble.
“We weren’t very happy with how it went last week – but we hope we can be better than we were, because we know we are,” said Stokes.
“I just think we didn’t really know how to approach it or were quick enough to adapt to what was in front of us. We went out there and expected to play how we all play and didn’t adapt to it.”
The Durham star added: “But looking back, if we had batted out those two days with all those overs we would have won the game.
“It was just a ll about adapting, and on day four we didn’t manage to do it. ‘Adapting’ will be the word we use in our meetings and in f uture if we ever get stuck in t hat position again.”