Ben Stokes: England Check captain admits constructive strategy with bat ‘hasn’t paid off’ in Pakistan collection defeat | Cricket Information

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

England racked up an enormous 823 runs within the first innings of their innings victory to open the collection on a flat pitch in Multan, however have been discovered wanting throughout 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 Assessments – each heavy defeats.

“The last two games, we had some challenges thrown at us and a good way to reflect on it is that we weren’t able to stand up to those challenges,” Stokes advised Sky Sports activities.

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

“It is very simple to take a seat right here and say, on the finish, when all the things’s unfolded, ‘might we have now carried out issues a bit bit totally different, evaluating ourselves to how Pakistan went about it?’

“But when we walk out on the field, we are very clear with how we want to go about things and I’m sure Pakistan would have been the same.”

England’s daring strategy, christened ‘Bazball’ since he and head coach Brendon McCullum took over the crew in the summertime of 2022, catapulted them to a 3-0 collection 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 crew stay dedicated to how they need to play.

“We’ve seen on quite a few occasions where that approach has worked for us, has worked for individuals,” the captain added.

“When it comes off, it’s obviously spoken about in terms of it being a great way to counteract what the opposition has shown you.

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

“And I’m not ever someone to ever live in hindsight… you can never go back and change your decision or what’s happened.”

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] top six seem to be lost.

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

Crawley averaged 27.80 over the three Tests, with Pope and Stokes’ returns the worst among the top order at just 11.00 and 13.25, respectively, but 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 said.

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

“How you deal with disappointment, how you deal with failure, and how you overcome that, is a massive part of you as an individual.”

As for his personal struggles for kind with the bat, Stokes added: “I’m always trying to adapt and evolve as a player, be that against spin or against pace.

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

What’s next for England?

England’s white-ball side head to the West Indies for three one-day internationals and a five-match T20 series, with the ODIs set to start in Antigua on Thursday October 31.

As for Stokes’ Test team, they are next in action in New Zealand for a three-match tour that begins in Christchurch on Thursday November 28.

Pakistan vs England Test series

First Test: 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