Ben Stokes

K · Joined: 09 Sep 2011

'"Imagine captaining in hindsight?" said Stokes, when asked about the follow-on. "That's nothing that I would ever do.

"It was always our game to lose once we enforced the follow-on.

"But the logic behind it was that our opening bowlers have ripped through their top-order for three innings in a row.

"We knew that New Zealand had to pretty much play the perfect game to put us in a situation like this."'

(Reuters)

K · Joined: 09 Sep 2011

A lotta differences... But this video reminded me of Stokes almost bashing a man to death in a drunken rage in Bristol, all caught on security video:

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/diaz-chokes-man-out-cold-20230428-p5d404.html

"Mixed martial arts star Nate Diaz turned himself in to police in New Orleans to face charges."

K · Joined: 09 Sep 2011

Stokes, on his 1st-innings declaration in the 1st Test:

"I'm a captain who saw it as an opportunity to pounce on Australia.

"I don't think any batter likes to go out 20 minutes before the close of play. The way in which we played, and took Australia on, actually allowed us to be able to do that.

"I could also turn around and say, 'If we didn't declare, would we have got that excitement like we did at the end of day five?'.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure but I'm not going to be looking back at this game as 'what ifs'.

"The reality is, we just didn't manage to get over the line this week."

Cummins, asked if he would have declared in similar circumstances:

"Probably not. I'm not overly surprised (that Stokes did) but the wicket felt pretty good so I thought every run was pretty much needed in that first innings."

(cricket.com.au)

Mark Taylor liked the declaration. But he didn't like England's 2nd-innings Bazball approach.

Commentators have been repeating themselves about the absence of Stokes's funky field placings in the 2nd Test.

K · Joined: 09 Sep 2011

Good innings on the last day at Lords, but brainless bowling to him.

And sheesh... It's a bit rich talkin' 'bout "the spirit of cricket" when you got away with bashing a man almost to death in a drunken rage, all caught on security video.

K · Joined: 09 Sep 2011

And again...

Clueless bowling to Stokes. Oz need to work out this problem before it costs the Ashes.

K · Joined: 09 Sep 2011

K · Joined: 09 Sep 2011

'Ben Stokes shouted “oh no” when he paddled a catch to short fine leg on 64, and put his bat down on the side of the boundary as he walked off to prevent him doing any damage to the dressing room. A World Cup campaign he described as “crap” on Friday was about to get worse and he knew it.

They had hope while their talismanic leader – he may not be captain, but he is still the ringmaster – was fighting hard against a lack of form. But with 118 still needed when Stokes was dismissed, belief drained away.'

(London Telegraph)

K · Joined: 09 Sep 2011

England were crushed by India in Ben Stokes's 100th Test. And Bazball is under fire.

India became the first side to declare against England in the Bazball era.

It was England's 2nd-worst ever Test loss in terms of runs. It was India's biggest win in terms of runs. And they were a man down (Ashwin --- family emergency).

K · Joined: 09 Sep 2011

Scyld Berry:

Ben Stokes’ Achilles heel: Passive batting against spin makes him a sitting duck

"In both innings of the fourth Test he was pinned either in, or on, the popping crease, having barely troubled the scorers. It took to 10 the number of times he has been dismissed for fewer than 10 runs in a Test in India in 26 innings.

It seems strange that the pioneer of Bazball should be so passive.
...

Herein lies an irony. England’s captain has been moving too little in the crease when he has gone in to bat in this series, whereas their vice-captain has been moving too much. Ollie Pope has been going to the opposite extreme of being too proactive at the start of his innings.
...

In such an environment as Durham was hitherto, if Stokes when growing up was given less experience in any aspect of batting, it must have been when starting a red-ball innings on a turner against world-class spinners with fielders around the bat."

(Telegraph, London)

K · Joined: 09 Sep 2011

Stokes LBW to Kuldeep Yadav for a 6-ball duck on day 1 of the 5th Test.

Kuldeep is left-arm wrist spin. Looking more and more like Stokes's problem is the ball spinning away. Just like FTB Smith (but dunno if Stokes is as bad as FTB Smith). Stokes also has an atrocious record against Ashwin.

Pies4shaw · pies4shaw Joined: 08 Oct 2007

BradSmith has so many technical deficiencies, according to you - can't play the moving ball, can't play slow-bowling, can't play the rising delivery etc etc. And yet, somehow, he's been the fastest player of all-time to 6,000, 7,000, 8,000 and 9,000 Test runs. That's some run of luck for a guy that you say can't bat.

Stokes is a fine all-rounder - but you should be embarrassed comparing him to BradSmith. BradSmith has 9,665 Test runs at an average of 57.52 from 108 Tests. Stokes has 6,314 Test runs at an average of 35.67 from 102 Tests. Thus, Stokes presently has the 452nd highest average all-time in Test cricket.

K · Joined: 09 Sep 2011