Former England captain Nasser Hussain says, Stokes was right to skip the England Lions fixtures as he wanted to keep himself fresh for the India series.
Hussain says, Ben Stokes made the right call by skipping the England Lions matches to stay sharp for the India series.
Leading an inexperienced bowling attack, Ben Stokes once again rose to the occasion during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, taking charge in the first innings at Manchester. His five-wicket haul played a crucial role in limiting India to 358. England then responded strongly, finishing Day 2 at 225/2 and seizing control of the fourth Test.
After undergoing knee surgery earlier in the year, there were widespread doubts about Ben Stokes ability to bowl in the series. Heading into the Tests against India, he had well played just one long-format match against Zimbabwe prompting questions about whether he was fully prepared. However, the former England captain Nasser Hussain believes Stokes has been right on the mark with the ball.
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After bowling his heart out at Lord’s match Stokes came up with another impressive outing here at Manchester taking the wickets of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur and Anshul Kamboj in the 24 overs he bowled. Lord’s stadium, where he was the Man of the Match he bowled 44 overs to strangle India with the old ball.
Nassar Hussain wrote in his Daily Mail,
“Against India in this summer, I cannot remember him bowling a bad spell. He should be an important England’s best bowler in the series. Ben has 16 wickets, and the most he has taken in a series in his career, and on Thursday he got his first five-wicket haul for eight years.”
“That have surprised some but Stokes has primarily been the fourth seamer in some pretty good attacks likes, Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Mark Wood alongside. He is the one in the enforcer role, banging it halfway down when it is flat. Is this why do you think he has had so many injuries?.”
“Everyone has a few questions asked before this series about why he didn’t go off and play for the Lions because he do not spent any time in middle. But he proved with this series has shown why he didn’t.”
In this series proved with his fit Ben Stokes is one of the great all-rounders in the world.
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