IND vs ENG: Ben Stokes Stands Strong Amidst Criticism Surrounding Bazball after the Rajkot Test
England captain Ben Stokes affirmed his resilience in the face of recent criticism surrounding the team’s ‘Bazball’ strategy. Following a crushing 434-run defeat in Rajkot, Stokes’ leadership came under scrutiny as several former cricketers emphasized the importance of playing according to the game’s demands rather than pursuing unconventional scoring methods.
Much of the critique was directed towards former captain Joe Root, who was criticized for his dismissal while attempting a reverse-scoop against Jasprit Bumrah during England’s first innings in the third Test. This incident sparked a considerable backlash against the Bazball approach.
Nevertheless, Stokes remained undeterred, acknowledging that such challenges are inherent to the sport. He recognized that failure to deliver results would inevitably invite criticism from fans back home.
“No, it’s sport, innit. You get plaudits when it goes well and a bit of s**t when it doesn’t. It’s part of it. I’ve been around long enough to know that, but we crack on,” Stokes was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Throughout England’s tour of India, the team has notably refrained from voicing complaints about the pitches they’ve encountered. Understanding that India has the prerogative to tailor surfaces to their advantage, England has adopted a mindset of acceptance and adaptation. Their training sessions in Abu Dhabi featured preparation on raked, sand-laced strips, aligning with this approach.
Despite occasional grievances with the Decision Review System (DRS), the pitches in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, and Rajkot have generally facilitated high-quality cricket. England secured victory in the first match, but India responded strongly with consecutive wins in the following contests.
However, a shift is imminent as the tour progresses to Ranchi. The JSCA International Stadium unveiled a peculiar 22-yard strip that caught the tourists’ attention. With visible cracks and plates that players anticipate may shift during play, it has piqued the visitors’ curiosity. Initially at a loss for words to describe it, Stokes eventually characterized the pitch as “very dark and crumbly.”
“I don’t know, I’ve never seen something like that before so I have got no idea. I don’t know what could happen. If you looked down one side of opposite ends it just looked different to what I am used to seeing, especially out in India. It looked green and grassy up in the changing rooms, but then you go out there, it looked different. Very dark and crumbly and quite a few cracks on it,” Stokes noted.
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