Stokes now showing he has the patience to complement his aggressive mindset
Chris Stocks looks back on England’s first Test and speaks to their talismanic all-rounder, Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes is not willing to back down. Whether it’s smashing South Africa’s bowlers to all parts, as he did when scoring the second-fastest Test double hundred in Cape Town earlier this year, or riding his luck against India’s spinners in Rajkot, he is always on the front foot. The Durham all-rounder’s passion and competitiveness are what makes him such a fine player. Sometimes, as in the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka, it makes him a fined player too.
Stokes received a slap on the wrists and lost 15 per cent of his match fee for “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game” on what proved to be the final morning of that Test in Dhaka last month, which England famously lost. He was spoken to by the umpires on several occasions in Rajkot as well, although Stokes did not step over the line in that drawn first Test, which he left his mark on instead by scoring a gutsy firstinnings hundred. Whatever happens in the remainder of this series, one thing is certain – Stokes won’t curb the passion that is an integral part of his approach.
“It’s more an explanation or just saying keep it down,” Stokes says of his frequent chats with the on-field officials. “They are normally saying there are 24 cameras at the ground, so be careful. In Bangladesh, it got a bit blown out, I think, but genuinely it doesn’t really go past that. I was surprised that was the first fine, to be honest.
“Everything you do on a pitch gets seen. There are that many cameras around. When you are out there, I think you forget about that. It’s only when they remind you and tell you about that aspect of the game with people watching that you remember you are playing in front of millions of people.”
Stokes registered his fourth Test hundred on the second day in Rajkot, and it was an innings that helped England post 537 batting first after centuries from Joe Root and Moeen Ali. It meant India were behind for the entire match.
Yet Stokes’ efforts with the bat, his innings of 235 balls the longest he has played so far in Tests, also took a toll on his body. Unable to eat when he is batting, he cramped up badly and was unable to bowl when India started their reply on the second evening.
“It was tough to come out and bowl after a pretty long day batting,” he said. “I think this is the first time I’ve realised it is tough to do both and try to back one of the skills up with the other. I can’t eat when I’m not out, I don’t know why. Our physio, strength and conditioning coach and doctor were trying to force feed me pretty much. I literally can’t eat, not even a protein shake or anything.
“I’ve never been able to do it. That was the reason for the cramp. I eat on a bowling day, yes, definitely, just when I’m not out I can’t seem to eat anything.”
Despite the cramps, Stokes eventually bowled 17 overs in India’s first innings, taking the key wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara for 124 as England bowled India out for 488, a lead of 49.
Alastair Cook’s side almost went on to win the game, too, as the captain scored his 30th Test hundred during a second-innings opening stand of 180 with Haseeb Hameed, the teenager enjoying a fine debut, before a declaration saw them have a minimum of 49 overs at India, who wobbled to 172-6 by the close. Stokes played his part in that effort and, after playing both Tests in Bangladesh, is confident his body will hold out to play in all seven pre-Christmas Tests on the sub-continent.
“I’ll have to put up with a bit of cramp here and there, I think,” he said. “Everyone does get it, except Cooky because he never sweats, so he doesn’t lose any fluid. I’m pretty confident that it will only be injury that will rule me out.”
Stokes’ performance in Rajkot also saw his batting average (35.70) overtake his bowling average (33.59) for the first time – the indication of a true all-rounder.
“I have seen that around,” he said.“It has just happened with time. I don’t want to take too much from that, just try and keep scoring runs and taking wickets.”
There’s no doubt the 25-year-old is a true leader for England both on and off the field and his standing in the set-up was reflected when Stokes was given the vice-captaincy for the recent oneday series in Bangladesh, where in the absence of Eoin Morgan he assisted stand-in skipper Jos Buttler.
Stokes thrived under the added responsibility, scoring what proved to be a match-winning hundred in the first ODI and then a series-sealing unbeaten 47 to guide England home in their run chase during the decider in Chittagong.
“I enjoyed it,” he said.“It didn’t feel like I was doing anything different in terms of the role I was playing in the field. The difference was Jos would have a few discussions whereas you normally see Cook and Rooty doing that or Eoin and Jos. It did not feel any different going to the games. I did not feel under
“Unable to eat when he is batting, Stokes cramped up badly and could not bowl when India started their reply on the second evening ”
any pressure and I still went about things the same way, shared my opinion if I felt it needed to be shared as I always do.”
England’s record of giving totemic all-rounders the captaincy has been poor, with both Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff failing in the role. So would Stokes fancy captaining his country?
“No,” he says. “You have to be boring like Cooky if you want to be captain. I don’t know. I am just enjoying being where I am at the moment, which is having opinions valued by captains, coaches and other guys.”
Stokes credits Paul Farbrace, England’s assistant coach, with helping him overcome a difficult period in his career after his initial breakthrough during the 2013-14 away Ashes series. That rough patch included Stokes breaking his hand after punching a locker in Barbados following a dismissal in a T20 international, and then enduring a poor run of form that saw him miss out on selection for England’s 2015 World Cup squad. Farbrace, caretaker coach before Trevor Bayliss took over following the sacking of Peter Moores, promoted Stokes to No.6 in the batting order for the first Test of the 2015 summer against New Zealand at Lord’s. He went on to score a brilliant hundred, and has not looked back since. “The last 18 months have been the turnaround,” he said. “I started off decent in Australia and then after that it was pretty s**t, to be honest. They kept on picking me and once Farby got me back up the order to six it carried on from there. The more I’ve played, the more confidence I’ve got, and it’s been good to be a part of this time with England, such a good team with both white and red ball.” Investec is the title sponsor of Test match cricket in England. For more on Investec private banking, visit investec.co.uk/banking