The Chhattisgarh

Tag: ben stokes

  • ‘I’m Not Quite Ready To Play’: England’s Ben Stokes On Not Playing The Multan Test Against Pakistan | cricket news

    Star England batsman Ben Stokes opened up on missing out on the upcoming first Test match against Pakistan in Multan and said that he tried his hardest to get himself first for the game of the series. Stokes has been ruled out of the Multan Test on Monday after he failed to recover from his hamstring injury. In the absence of Stokes, wicketkeeper-batsman Ollie Pope will lead the Three Lions against Pakistan in the first Test.

    Earlier in August, Stokes suffered a hamstring injury during The Hundred. This ruled him out of England’s triumph against Sri Lanka (2-1) and it was Ollie Pope who led the side in the veteran’s absence. Speaking to Sky Sports, Stokes said that he had to make the call to miss the Multan Test against Pakistan. He added that there’s a lot left in his rehab program.

    “I tried my hardest to get myself fit for this first game but I’ve taken the call to miss this one. I’ve not quite managed to get game-ready. There is a lot that has to go into my rehab program. We got to a certain point, but looking at the bigger picture of what we’ve got coming up and physically where I’m at, I’m not quite ready to play,” Stokes was quoted by Sky Sports as saying.

    The 33-year-old added that it is frustrating for him to miss out on the game. “It’s always frustrating to miss out. I’ve got some good things to focus on, so even though I’m not playing I’ve got a goal in mind. I’ve got a good 10 days to get myself ready for the second.” he added.

    The first Test will begin on October 7 in Multan, followed by the second Test on October 15, also in Multan. The final Test will be held in Rawalpindi from October 24 to 28.

    England’s playing eleven against Pakistan in the Multan Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (C), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.

  • 'This Is Clownery..': Social Media Furious After Ben Stokes' Ball To Dismiss Rohit Sharma Hailed By British Media As 'The Best In Series' | cricket news

    Ben Stokes decided it was enough waiting for the first ball in eight months. Wickets were hard to come by in Dharamsala and despite no nod from the team's physio, Stokes felt he needed to lead from the front and bowl a few overs. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill's partnership had already pushed England on back foot on day 2 of the fifth and last Test. England were desperate for a breakthrough and not many had expected that Stokes would provide that so soon.

    Also Read | After Rohit Sharma's 2nd Test Hundred Vs England, Geoffrey Boycott's Controversial Statement Is Viral Again

    The first delivery in 251 days from Stokes landed outside off at good length. It held its line before shaping away ever-so-slightly to hit the off. Rohit could not do much about it. That was a peach from one of cricket's greatest all-rounders. Rohit had a smile on his face as he walked back. He knew he had been done by an excellent delivery and he needed not regret the dismissal.

    Stokes was happy but he stopped himself from celebrating it in an animated way. However, his teammates were maybe impressed. Mark Wood had his hand off his head and a big shock on his face. Stokes bowled the first ball in 251 days and it worked. It cleaned up a batter who had faced over 160 deliveries and never looked like getting out.

    The social media was soon abuzz with reactions to Stokes. While many hailed Stokes for being a great leader and risking his injury to come and deliver the goods, many went on to call the delivery the best in the series. BCC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew went on to compare Stokes first-ball wicket to that Ian Botham's first-ball wicket after he came back from 63-day drugs suspension.

    “Ben Stokes provided an Ian Botham moment of scene-stealing drama to announce his return…,” wrote Telegraph's Nick Hoult.

    Stokes, who is going through a lean patch as batsman, began to get massive praise for this one ball. This was not appreciated by many Indian fans on social media, who reminded the world that Bumrah had bowled a screamer to Ollie Pope not long ago. Another Twitter user and a fan said that sports website talkSport called Stokes' delivery to Rohit as the ball of the series. That user ranted, “Last piece of rant for today..TalkSport called Stokes ball as the best ball of the series. I mean..Bumrah literally had stokes cleaned up in Hyderabad and then Pope in Vizag. These are just two of so many I can put across here. This is beyond delusion..this is clownery.”

    Check some reactions to Stokes receiving praise for this delivery to Rohit below:

    Last piece of rant for today..TalkSport called Stokes ball as the best ball of the series.

    I mean..Bumrah literally had stokes cleaned up in Hyderabad and then Pope in Vizag. These are just two of so many I can put across here.

    This is beyond delusion..this is clownery — Anuj Nitin Prabhu (@APTalksCricket) March 8, 2024

    IND bowler delivers a world class spell, runs through the middle of the ENG order Press: Bazball blah blah blah

    Ben Stokes bowls 5 Ok overs and gets one ball to misbehave off the pitch

    Press: THE GREATEST BALL OF THE SERIES! WHO WRITES HIS SCRIPTS!

    — cricketingview (@cricketingview) March 8, 2024

    Man for this insane PR Ben Stokes deserves the National Creator award Modiji… https://t.co/PUDigPjc5n — Varun (@wizardrincewind) March 9, 2024

    India are in a commanding position in the fifth Test, leading by over 255 runs on the morning of Day 3. The hosts are already leading 3-1 in the series and a 4-1 result looks almost certain now.