Ashes 2019 | When the big occasions come around, Ben Stokes will be there, says Joe Root
England captain Joe Root has reaffirmed the tag of the “big-match-player” given to all-rounder Ben Stokes by cricket pundits and media alike, ahead of the fourth Ashes Test at Manchester. Stokes’ unbeaten 135 almost single-handedly took England to a one-wicket win in the third Test.
After a dismal IPL that left many wondering what had gone wrong with him, Stokes turned up at the World Cup as a man resurrected. Not only did he slam five crucial fifties, but it was his knock in the chase in the final that carried England through to a maiden World Cup title. Then, as if it was not enough, he took it to another level when he pulled off a near-miracle at Headingley. No wonder his captain Root calls him an inspiration for the rest of the team, and not just with his on-field heroics but with his off-field dynamics as well.
"One thing you know about Ben is that when the big occasions come around, he is going to be there. He is going to want to be a part of it, he is never going to shy away from any sort of challenge, and he has proven that this summer. If you combine that with the skill and ability he has and it's a great combination and a great inspiration for not only the young guys coming into this team but the senior players as well,” Root was quoted saying by CricketNext.
Ahead of the penultimate clash of the five-match series, Root only hopes that his all-rounder can keep repeating the performances and make the most of his form.
"For him, I think he has just got to keep working and doing exactly what he is doing - he's flying at the moment! He needs to harness that, bottle it up and make the most of it while he is in this great form,” he said.
"He is a great team man, he is one of those guys who will go out of his way to help everyone and make sure that they feel like they are ready. He'll always offer advice, he's a brilliant senior player and leader. He shows that on the field. He's got a good balance of knowing when to say the right things. He's very passionate and he drags people with him. He's just a genuinely good bloke,” Root continued.
After a dismal loss in the first Test, England swung the momentum their way in the second Test at Lord’s despite the end result was a draw. But the dramatic turn around of events at Leeds means that they are now the favourites going into the business end of the series.
"When you come off a win like that it is a big lift for the whole squad. I thought the way we played the week before at Lord's it started to feel like we were wrestling our way back into the series and we did a lot of good stuff there. It felt like last week we made a lot of mistakes and didn't quite get it right but through some individual brilliance and some resilience in our batting in the second innings and high-quality bowling, bar the odd spell here or there, we still managed to win. In a way, if we can bring those two performances together we feel like we'll be in a really good place at the end of this week as well," Root added.
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