Ben Stokes feels he let himself down by appearing for a challenging Ashes tour out of shape, which held him back with bat and ball throughout the five-match series. The premier England allrounder, who was making a Test comeback after six months, performed poorly in either department.
The 30-year-old made just 236 runs in his 10 innings of the series, where he bagged only four wickets at an average of 71.50. Skill was intact but improper fitness meant that England’s key player couldn’t keep up with the rampaging Aussies, who drowned their hapless visitors 4-0.
In the West Indies now for a three-match Test series, he recalled the experience for the tour Down Under and said never again he wants to let himself and England’s passionate fans down in such a manner.
“When I look back on it I felt I let myself down. But the thing that really grinds me the most is that I let a lot of other people down. I never want to feel that way again.”
“It’s just that I could have been better. Obviously I had a long break which never helps. I couldn’t do much in three or four months so I was always behind.”
“I would have liked to have been in better physical shape when I was in Australia,”
Stokes was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Easily the most important cog in England’s wheels, Stokes said it didn’t feel familiar not to be making an impact at any stage of the series. Stokes has been known for producing important counterattacks with the bat and chipping in with crucial breakthroughs against the run of play.
The tour Down Under seems to have only made Stokes more determined towards his Test match game, as he has opted out of IPL 2022 and is looking to make amends through the tour of the Caribbean, which will soon be followed by the home series against New Zealand in June.
