STOKES SETS SIGHTS ON MORE SUCCESS
DURHAM ALL-ROUNDER WILL CONTINUE TO DO THINGS HIS WAY AFTER SUPERB DISPLAY
Ben Stokes is determined to keep creating cricket history in his own right as comparisons with Andrew Flintoff inevitably surface again after his match-winning exploits at The Oval.
It was easy to see why England seamer Stuart Broad referenced dual Ashes-winner Flintoff as he reflected on Stokes’ barnstorming second-innings spell as the hosts went 2-1 up on South Africa with a 239-run victory in the third Investec Test.
A searing yorker from round the wicket to bowl Quinton de Kock off his pads, and then a fast inswinger to have South Africa captain Faf du Plessis lbw first ball playing no shot, revived memories of Stokes’ fellow all-rounder in his pomp.
The wicket celebrations were equally reminiscent of some of Flintoff ’s too.
It is nothing new to Stokes, of course, to be likened to “that guy” - whose last England appearance came in a blaze of glory as they regained the Ashes at The Oval in 2009.
His career figures, with an upward trend fairly projected at the age of 26, are already favourable in fact more than two above Flintoff with the bat and less than two worse with the ball, 34.19 and 34.46 respectively.
“It’s always nice getting compared to that guy,” said Stokes.
“Some of the spells he produced when playing for England were amazing to watch.”
Stokes also set up England’s success, a response to their landslide defeat at Trent Bridge the previous week, with a first-innings hundred - taking the match honours just ahead of Moeen Ali, who completed the win with The Oval’s first ever Test hat-trick.
His performance has also pushed him up in the International Cricket Council’s rankings, to fifth among the world’s best current allrounders - one place below Moeen.
In pursuit of further heroics, Stokes spells out he will keep doing things his own way rather than trying to emulate others.
“I’ve always said that when the comparisons started flying at me I’m not trying to be anyone else except myself,” he added.
“As long as I can produce the moments for the team that swing it our way, and it means we’re going to win, that’s all I’m trying to do.
“I’m not trying to live up to anyone else’s reputation or anything like that.
“I’m just trying to do what I do and trying to keep putting in good performances.”
Stokes has been a resurgent force with the ball since overcoming an early-season knee injury - and served notice with a hostile spell in Nottingham too.
“It’s been tough work over the last probably six or seven weeks,” he said.
“Since the knee trouble I had at the start of the summerintheone-dayersIfound it quite tough to get back to my best, rhythm-wise and pace-wise.
“(But) the big confidence boost was that long spell I bowled at Trent Bridge.
“It’s all about now, making sure I keep that hard work up and not resting on my laurels ( just) because I’ve had a couple of decent spells.”