Despite run-in, Stokes bears ‘no grudges’ against Rabada
LONDON: England’s Ben Stokes has no qualms about playing against South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada when the fiery duo meet again in the third Test at The Oval starting Thursday.
Fast bowler Rabada was banned from the Proteas’ 340run series-levelling win at Trent Bridge last week for swearing at Stokes after dismissing the allrounder in the campaign opener at Lord’s.
His return for what will be the 100th Test at south London ground The Oval bolsters an already impressive pace attack that twice bowled England out cheaply at Trent Bridge.
Stokes, no stranger to on-field aggression himself, does not expect an enforced absence to have a marked change on Rab ada’ s approach save only for a few alterations in the 22-year-old rising star’s choice of words.
“I have no bad blood with him or any grudges -- if anything it just show she cares about how he performs,” said Stokes at an event for series sponsors Investec, a banking and asset management company, at The Oval on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately with stump mics -- if you are going to say something loudly -- it can’t be a swear word, as I know personally,” 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 already has points against his name as a result of offences under the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct (ICC), the same cumulative procedure which led to Rabada’s one-match ban. “It is part of the game ... you just need to be careful with what you say and where you say it,” Stokes explained.
‘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 response to tough situations with the bat was to try to hit their way out of trouble.