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Ben Stokes fired up and glad to be back with a winning England team Ben Stokes fired up and glad to be back with a winning England team
(about 2 hours later)
Ben Stokes has claimed that the decision by England’s selectors to leave him out of the squad who beat India in the third Test “wasn’t really explained to me”, but before meeting up with the party for the fourth Test at old Trafford, the all-rounder says he holds no ill-feeling towards those in charge and wants to concentrate on establishing himself in the side. Ben Stokes has said the decision by England’s selectors to leave him out of the squad who beat India in the third Test “wasn’t really explained to me” but before joining the party for the fourth Test at Old Trafford said he holds no ill-feeling towards those in charge and wants to concentrate on establishing himself in the side.
Having burst on to the Test cricket scene with the best innings of any England player during the Ashes whitewash, Stokes has seen his international career stall. The 23-year-old was left out of the squad who faced Sri Lanka in June owing to concerns over his lack of cricket following a wrist injury and then from the team who took on India in Southampton last week after he failed to get off the mark in the three innings he has played in this series. Although he performed adequately with the ball, it was decided that Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan, who are both more than capable with the bat, should come into the side. Having burst on to the Test cricket scene with the best innings of any England player during the Ashes whitewash, the 23-year-old allrounder has seen his international career stall. He was left out of the squad who faced Sri Lanka in June owing to concerns over his lack of cricket following a wrist injury and then from the team who took on India in Southampton last week after three ducks in the three innings he has played in the current series. Although he performed adequately with the ball, it was decided that Chris Woakes and Chris Jordan, both more than capable with the bat, should come into the side.
“I didn’t have any complaints about being left out, I could understand it, but obviously was very disappointed” Stokes says. “The decision to leave me out wasn’t really explained to me, I was just taken to one side and told who they were going with and I wasn’t in it. I could understand the decision, though.” “I didn’t have any complaints about being left out. I could understand it but obviously was very disappointed,” Stokes says. “The decision to leave me out wasn’t really explained to me. I was just taken to one side and told who they were going with and I wasn’t in it. I could understand the decision, though.”
Stokes thus returned to Durham to try to get some runs. The vagaries of the county schedule mean that there is no red-ball cricket being played at the moment – in fact there is none until the end of August, so Stokes returned to his county side to play in the Royal London One Day Cup for two matches, making a quick-fire half century against Kent at Canterbury last week. Stokes thus returned to Durham to try to get some runs. The vagaries of the county schedule mean that there is no red-ball cricket being played at the moment – in fact there is none until the end of August, so Stokes returned to his county side to play in the Royal London One Day Cup for two matches, making a quick-fire half-century against Kent at Canterbury last week.
“I had a chat with [the coach] Peter Moores and told him that Durham had a couple of fixtures and asked if I could go and play in them, which he was fine about,” Stokes says. “It’s really good to go and play with your county if you are left out of the international side and it was good to feel the ball coming off the middle of the bat.“I had a chat with [the coach] Peter Moores and told him that Durham had a couple of fixtures and asked if I could go and play in them, which he was fine about,” Stokes says. “It’s really good to go and play with your county if you are left out of the international side and it was good to feel the ball coming off the middle of the bat.
“Whatever side you are playing for it’s frustrating to lose, though. We lost to Kent in a match that we really should have won. It was good to finally get off the mark with the bat, and nice to make a half century in that match.” “Whatever side you are playing for it’s frustrating to lose, though. We lost to Kent in a match that we really should have won. It was good to finally get off the mark with the bat and nice to make a half-century in that match.”
Stokes is part of the 13-man squad named for the fourth Test, which starts at Old Trafford on Thursday, and has a chance of being involved following the withdrawal of the injured Liam Plunkett. There appears to be a three-way fight for the fourth seam-bowling spot between Stokes, Jordan and another returnee, Steve Finn, who on Monday signed a three-year deal with Middlesex. Stokes is part of the 13-man squad named for the fourth Test, which starts at Old Trafford on Thursday, and has a chance of being involved following the withdrawal of the injured Liam Plunkett. There appears to be a three-way fight for the fourth seam-bowling spot between Stokes, Jordan and another returnee, Steven Finn, who on Monday signed a three-year deal with Middlesex.
“I am looking forward to [joining up with the squad],” says Stokes, “and I am absolutely delighted that the lads got the win in Southampton, especially for [Alastair] Cook with all the pressure on him.“I am looking forward to [joining up with the squad],” says Stokes, “and I am absolutely delighted that the lads got the win in Southampton, especially for [Alastair] Cook with all the pressure on him.
“I do realise, though, that it’s harder to force your way back into a team that’s just won so I have to just show that I am focused and determined and play a full part in the squad and see what the final selection decisions are.” “I do realise, though, that it’s harder to force your way back into a team that’s just won, so I have to just show that I am focused and determined and play a full part in the squad and see what the final selection decisions are.”
Stokes also spoke about the relief within the England camp following the decision to find Jimmy Anderson not guilty of a breach of the code of conduct which could have seen the Lancastrian miss his home Test. “Not that we haven’t been concentrating totally on our cricket, but it’s good to have all the business with Anderson and [Ravindra] Jadeja put to bed because it has been in the back of our minds,” Stokes says. “It’s great to have it all done and dusted and be totally focused on winning the series.” Stokes also spoke about the relief within the England camp following the decision to find Jimmy Anderson not guilty of a breach of the code of conduct which could have seen the Lancastrian miss his home Test. “Not that we haven’t been concentrating totally on our cricket but it’s good to have all the business with Anderson and [Ravindra] Jadeja put to bed because it has been in the back of our minds,” Stokes says. “It’s great to have it all done and dusted and be totally focused on winning the series.”
Stokes’s fortunes turned after such an exciting and promising tour of Australia in which he scored England’s only century in the Ashes and was man of the match in the fourth ODI in Perth, scoring 70 and taking four for 39. His tour of the West Indies ended prematurely and ignominiously for him after he injured a hand punching a locker with frustration. It also led to him missing the World T20 and the start of the English season, as he was still recovering from the self-inflicted injury. Stokes’ fortunes turned after an exciting introduction on the tour of Australia in which he scored England’s only century in the Ashes and was man of the match in the fourth ODI in Perth, making 70 and taking four for 39. His tour of the West Indies ended prematurely and ignominiously after he injured a hand punching a locker with frustration. It also led to him missing the World T20 and the start of the English season, as he was still recovering from the self-inflicted injury.
After being left out of the first Test series of the summer he played four County Championship matches with Durham, having a relatively quiet time with the bat, making only 172 runs in six innings at an average of 28.66 before returning to the England side.After being left out of the first Test series of the summer he played four County Championship matches with Durham, having a relatively quiet time with the bat, making only 172 runs in six innings at an average of 28.66 before returning to the England side.
“It’s been so frustrating,” he said. “In the nets before the first two Tests [against India] I felt like I was hitting everything nicely. I know Tests aren’t played in the nets but it’s been really frustrating to get out without scoring in those two Test matches because I have felt like I was in good touch.” “It’s been so frustrating,” he says. “In the nets before the first two Tests [against India] I felt like I was hitting everything nicely. I know Tests aren’t played in the nets but it’s been really frustrating to get out without scoring in those two Test matches because I felt like I was in good touch.”
Woakes, who bowled well without luck in the third Test at Southampton, is certain to retain his place at Old Trafford, which is likely to be the paciest pitch of the summer Test venues. That may edge Finn in front of Stokes and Jordan for the final spot in the England side.Woakes, who bowled well without luck in the third Test at Southampton, is certain to retain his place at Old Trafford, which is likely to be the paciest pitch of the summer Test venues. That may edge Finn in front of Stokes and Jordan for the final spot in the England side.