X-factor Stokes in no mood to take it easy
England complete a nail-biting 22-run victory in Chittagong to lead two-match Test series 1-0
He might feel entitled to a breather after a backbreaking effort in his team’s latest Test triumph but England’s ‘X-factor’ Ben Stokes said he’d rather be dropped than rested during a marathon tour of the sub-continent.
The lion-hearted Stokes was named Man of the Match yesterday for his starring role in England’s nail-biting first Test win over Bangladesh in which he scored a crucial half century and took six wickets. After batting for more than three hours while making 85 on Saturday, Stokes then bowled superbly in Bangladesh’s second innings and finished the match with six wickets in temperatures hitting 32 degrees Celsius.
Stokes began the year by scoring a career best 258 in a Test against South Africa but after England’s 22-run victory in Chittagong, the Durham player classed it as his most complete performance so far. “Overall, I think it is,” the 25-year-old replied when asked if he thought it was the most satisfying match.
Stokes said he was particularly pleased with having improved his technique against the spinners, saying he had always been able to “take the aggressive route” but had now given himself more options.
Stokes said he had been putting in the hours, “making sure that my defence is tight and still having options to be able to rotate the strike when they do bowl the ball in a good area”.
He had also been working on his concentration levels so “that I’m switched on enough that if there is a bad ball to come along — because there aren’t going to be many — I still put it away for four or six.” Stokes’ career has been interrupted by several injuries and the selectors will be desperate that he remains fit throughout the winter in which England will play a total of seven Tests, including five against India.