England’s cricket captain, Ben Stokes, has found himself facing criticism following the team’s recent struggles in India, particularly regarding their perceived lack of “ruthlessness.” This critique intensified after India secured a comprehensive 3-1 series victory in Ranchi, leaving England captain Stokes to defend his team’s approach.
The defeat in Ranchi marked England’s first series loss under Stokes’ leadership, following victories against New Zealand, South Africa, and Pakistan. However, their performance in India has raised concerns, especially when contrasted with India’s dominant display.
During a post-match press conference, Ben Stokes expressed his frustration with the “ruthlessness” label, questioning its definition and its application to his team. He emphasized that every player enters the game aiming to win, and attributing a lack of ruthlessness solely based on outcomes is unfair and dismissive of their efforts.
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“What is ruthlessness? How does it show itself?” Ben Stokes asked reporters. “Everyone goes into the game with their best intentions; when it doesn’t pay off, people say we’re not ruthless. When it does, they say we are. I don’t really understand it.”
Despite the series loss, Stokes remains optimistic about his team’s future. He highlighted their recent successes under his leadership and emphasized their continuous learning and improvement mindset.
“We want to win every game we play and win every series,” Ben Stokes said. “This is the first we have lost, but we will be involved in plenty more series going forward. It’s always disappointing being on the losing team. Looking back at when we had our chance to bat yesterday, cricket is always skill against skill.”
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England will now face India in the final Test match of the series in Dharamshala, scheduled to begin on March 7th. This match holds significant importance for both teams, as England seeks to end the series on a positive note and improve their standings in the World Test Championship table.
