Ben Stokes defends spin-friendly pitches in India

Brushing apart claims of India allotting spin-friendly pitches on goal, England all-rounder Ben Stokes acknowledged a Check participant needs to be outfitted to deal with any scenario. He added each India and England, like different cricket-playing nations, include their very own set of challenges.

Ben Stokes’ feedback got here after former England captain Michael Vaughan raised a pink flag about spinning tracks hampering Check cricket. Whereas England negated the spin menace of each the pitch and India’s bowlers of their 227-run first Check win, the hosts romped to a 317-run victory within the second match on a floor which aided comparatively extra spin.

“The factor about being a Check batsman is that you simply want to have the ability to deal with all kinds of circumstances. India is among the locations the place it’s a lot harder for abroad batsmen to return and achieve success, however then so too is England. And that’s a part of the sport, the challenges and why we adore it,” Ben Stokes wrote in his column for the Day by day Mirror.

Whereas the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai had the spinners licking their lips, the pink ball Check on the refurbished Motera is prone to deliver the quicker bowlers into play. Ben Stokes additionally echoed related sentiments whereas including nobody is aware of how the brand new floor will play.

“Typically around the globe every time these pink ball video games are performed, there’s all the time a interval when the ball begins doing a bit beneath lights and it brings the seamers proper into the sport. For us out right here, that shall be huge,” Ben Stokes talked about.

“And at a model new floor that appears fairly spectacular, nobody will know simply the way it will react. We’ve acquired a superb spin division, however hopefully with circumstances that go well with, we’ve actually acquired a seam division to again them up strongly,” Ben Stokes additional added.

Notably, England are the final abroad aspect to have received a Check sequence in India. Sir Alastair Prepare dinner’s boys trumped the hosts 2-1 on the 2012/13 tour.

“Good factor is we all know what it takes to win out right here” – Ben Stokes

The four-Check sequence is deadlocked at 1-1. Each matches have been dictated by the staff profitable the toss and opting to bat first, after which exploiting the obvious roughs and cracks that open up on the final 2-3 days.

Ben Stokes attributed the development to “scoreboard strain”, as the primary innings of each Checks noticed numerous runs placed on the board.

“Scoreboard strain in Check cricket might be at its most distinguished within the subcontinent, and performs an enormous half in attempting to win the sport. The great factor is we all know what it takes to win out right here, so it’s about placing that into apply as soon as extra, studying what we will from the second Check and delivering this week,” Ben Stokes reasoned.

Wickets got here at a premium for speedsters within the second Check, with star all-rounder Ben Stokes bowling simply two overs within the first innings and none within the second. He hinted at sending down just a few extra deliveries with the pink ball.

“Don’t learn an excessive amount of into the truth that I didn’t bowl an enormous quantity within the second recreation, I’m certain if it was a inexperienced seamer, I’d have bowled much more overs. I believe there could also be extra purpose for me to bowl beneath lights within the subsequent recreation if it would assist the staff,” Ben Stokes added.

The third Check begins on Wednesday (February 24). Whereas England must win the remaining two matches to play New Zealand within the World Check Championship ultimate, India must win the sequence by at the least a one-Check margin to qualify for the summit conflict.

Revealed 22 Feb 2021, 12:13 IST