Lucky to be involved in a home World Cup and home Ashes in the same summer, says Ben Stokes

Lucky to be involved in a home World Cup and home Ashes in the same summer, says Ben Stokes

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English all-rounder considers himself extremely lucky to be a part of the England set-up for the upcoming World Cup and Ashes, which are scheduled to take place in the same English summer. Stokes has been an integral part of the team across formats and will be the player to watch out for.

Ben Stokes is one of the impactful all-rounders in the fraternity and has played a key role behind England’s successful triumph against Pakistan in the fourth ODI at Bristol. With World Cup around the corner, stokes has regained his mojo and will be the player to watch out for in the tournament. 

Stokes missed out on the previous Ashes following a brawl at a night club but will certainly make it to the English Test side in the Ashes after the completion of the World Cup.  

“We were talking about this, I think it might have been last night, how lucky we are as players to be involved in a home World Cup and home Ashes in the same summer, it’s very exciting to think about. I just want it to start,” Stokes said, reported AFP. 

Stokes had an awful time in the IPL and was in desperate need of a big score under his belt to infuse some confidence. The fourth ODI against Pakistan gave him a golden opportunity to get going under the pump and the southpaw grabbed it with both hands. He rescued the English ship from choppy waters and played a match-winning knock of an unbeaten 71. 

“We wanted to make sure our focus was on this series and not be thinking about the World Cup and we’ve done a great job so far. We’d love to take the (Pakistan) series 4-0 but, whatever happens, it is a clean slate after Headingley and we need to concentrate on the World Cup. It’s always nice to get some time out in the middle and it’s good to take some positives forward with the World Cup just around the corner,” said Stokes. 

England were doing well in the 2017 Champions Trophy and looked like the team to beat but one bad game against Pakistan saw them being knocked out of the tournament. After a solid run in the series, England were on the brink of losing the momentum, but Stokes bounced back emphatically to carry the team over the line. 

“As everyone knows, we generally seem to have a stinker somewhere in a series. This could have been that game for us but the confidence we’ll take from losing four quick wickets then still finishing off the game will stand us in great stead. The most confidence I’ll take from that was being there at the end. The one thing I wanted to do and not throw it away when we got to that winning position,” Stokes added.

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