Ben Stokes: England Check captain admits constructive method with bat ‘hasn’t paid off’ in Pakistan sequence defeat

England Check captain Ben Stokes stood by the group’s constructive method with the bat although admitted it “hasn’t paid off for us” as his facet slumped to a 2-1 sequence defeat in Pakistan.

England racked up a large 823 runs within the first innings of their innings victory to open the sequence on a flat pitch in Multan, however have been discovered wanting in the course of the two subsequent losses on turning tracks.

Within the 4 innings since, the vacationers have tallied 291, 144, 267 and solely 112 within the second innings in Rawalpindi, with spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan combining for 39 wickets over the ultimate two Checks – each heavy defeats.

“The final two video games, we had some challenges thrown at us and a great way to mirror on it’s that we weren’t in a position to stand as much as these challenges,” Stokes informed Sky Sports activities.

“When that occurs, you are most likely going to fall on the unsuitable facet of the end result – and that’s what’s occurred.

“It’s totally straightforward to take a seat right here and say, on the finish, when the whole lot’s unfolded, ‘may we’ve executed issues a bit of bit completely different, evaluating ourselves to how Pakistan went about it?’

“However once we stroll out on the sector, we’re very clear with how we need to go about issues and I am positive Pakistan would have been the identical.”

England’s daring method, christened ‘Bazball’ since he and head coach Brendon McCullum took over the group in the summertime of 2022, catapulted them to a 3-0 sequence win on their final tour of Pakistan later that yr.

All three surfaces they confronted two years in the past equally favoured the batters just like the series-opener this yr, however when the ball spins within the sub-continent, England have struggled – a 4-1 defeat to India earlier this yr approaching predominantly turning tracks

Regardless of that, Stokes mentioned the group stay dedicated to how they need to play.

“We have seen on fairly a number of events the place that method has labored for us, has labored for people,” the captain added.

“When it comes off, it is clearly spoken about by way of it being an effective way to counteract what the opposition has proven you.

“You’d quite it work extra instances than not, however positively in these final two Check matches, our method hasn’t paid off for us. That does not imply that we have doubted our capability or how we need to go on the market and play.

“And I am not ever somebody to ever stay in hindsight… you’ll be able to by no means return and alter your resolution or what’s occurred.”

Stokes has ‘no doubts’ over England’s top-six batters

Sky Sports activities’ Nasser Hussain labelled the discrepancy in England’s batting on flat pitches in comparison with spinning surfaces a priority, including on the batting: “Three of your [England’s] prime six appear to be misplaced.

“I am speaking about Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, and even Stokes in Asia… his final 10 scores are very low in these circumstances.”

Crawley averaged 27.80 over the three Checks, with Pope and Stokes’ returns the worst among the many prime order at simply 11.00 and 13.25, respectively, however Stokes stood by the batters picked.

“There is no doubt in my thoughts or Brendon’s that have gotten the perfect top-six gamers in England,” he mentioned.

“Generally guys will reap the rewards of performing effectively out within the center and, sadly, another guys will miss out.

“The way you cope with disappointment, the way you cope with failure, and the way you overcome that, is a large a part of you as a person.”

As for his personal struggles for type with the bat, Stokes added: “I am all the time making an attempt to adapt and evolve as a participant, be that in opposition to spin or in opposition to tempo.

“I’ve performed a lot cricket that the frustration is all the time there, it all the time hits exhausting, however when you’ve got a lot expertise to fall again on, it is all the time simpler to take.”

What’s subsequent for England?

England’s white-ball facet head to the West Indies for 3 one-day internationals and a five-match T20 sequence, with the ODIs set to begin in Antigua on Thursday October 31.

As for Stokes’ Check group, they’re subsequent in motion in New Zealand for a three-match tour that begins in Christchurch on Thursday November 28.

Pakistan vs England Check sequence

First Check: Multan – England received by an innings and 47 runs

Second Check: Multan – Pakistan received by 152 runs

Third Check: Rawalpindi – Pakistan received by 9 wickets