
England, under the captaincy of the veteran all-rounder Ben Stokes, are all set to take on India in the upcoming high-octane five-match Test series at home. Stokes-led in-form English side will face the new-look Indian side under newly appointed skipper Shubman Gill. Meanwhile, the role of English skipper Ben Stokes as an all-rounder is going to be very crucial for the hosts in this series.
Stokes will be one of the major hurdles in India’s way to win a Test series in England, after an 18-year wait since they last won one in 2007. The star England all-rounder is known for his amazing batting abilities, alongside producing some amazing spells as an extra pacer in the core bowling attack.
With that said, here we’ll have a look at the 3 reasons why Ben Stokes can be the X Factor player for England against India.
Recent Performances
Ben Stokes has featured in his last four Tests against New Zealand and Zimbabwe. In these appearances, he has scalped 11 wickets in eight innings, with a decent economy rate. He could be a crucial asset with the ball for his side, providing the option of an extra pacer in the core pace attack.
Besides that, Stokes has also scored a half-century, alongside an unbeaten 49-run knock in the last five innings he got to bat. So, he might also add some impactful runs while batting in the lower middle order.
Massive Experience
After making his Test debut 12 years ago in 2013, Stokes has played 111 Tests in his 12-year-long Test career. In these matches, he has impressed both with his batting and bowling performances. Speaking of his batting, he has scored 6728 runs in 199 innings, with a decent batting average of 35.41, hitting 13 centuries and 35 half-centuries.
On the other hand, he has also claimed 213 wickets in 162 innings, with an outstanding economy rate of 3.33, claiming eight four-wicket hauls and four five-wicket hauls. It also includes his best performance of ‘6 wickets at just 22 runs in an innings’, and ‘8 wickets at 161 runs in a game’.
Captaincy
England has recorded an aggressive approach owing to the BazBall theory of skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. Under Ben Stokes, England’s brand of cricket has taken a big turn, which has made them a centre of attraction among the fans and experts of the game.
In comparison to India’s newly-appointed and young skipper Shubman Gill, Stokes has a good enough captaincy experience of 3 years to his name since he took charge in 2022. So, he could also be an X factor for England with his leadership skills.
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.