England captain Joe Root has shared his views on all-rounder Ben Stokes’ struggles in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba. He admitted that he regrets hoping too much from Stokes, despite being the fact that he returned to professional cricket for the first time since July as well.
Notably, Ben Stokes had taken a break from cricket to cure his mental health and he didn’t even feature in the ICC T20 World Cup as well. The ongoing Ashes series against Australia is his first series since returning from the break. And, he failed to live up to the expectations across departments in the first Test. He scored only 19 runs alongside bowling figures of 12-0-65-0 as well.
Speaking before a practice session before the second Test, Joe Root said as quoted by Perth Now:
“It was a huge ask for Ben last week and I’m probably guilty as much as anyone, I expected too much of him because I see him almost as a bit of a superhero. Look at what he’s done in the last couple of years when he’s played and at least once a series, maybe twice a series, he’s done something extraordinary which has won a game on its own.”
Meanwhile, Ben Stokes seemed to have sustained an injury in his knee and it made his selection doubtful for the day-night Test, but he told that he can manage his injury. Joe Root, however, stated that the all-rounder was under pressure. Root said:
“You do get a little complacent about expecting that. It’s easy to forget that on a big occasion like this whether it’s because he’s not played a huge amount or also what he’s had to go through recently, I think there was a little bit too much on him.”
Root back Stokes to come back in Adelaide
However, the captain backed Ben Stokes and believed his failure will drive him to deliver extraordinary performances soon as well. The second Ashes Test is a near-must-win game for England which will be played with the pink ball at the Adelaide Oval, starting Thursday.
“But you know the character he is, it will have motivated him even more now to put in one of those magical performances. Whether that comes this week or further down the series I know it’s there. I know it’s going to come, it’s just when,” Joe Root concluded.
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