Ben Stokes backs England to become 'better team' after India series loss - 'Write this team off at your peril'
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ByOli Gent
Updated 11/03/2024 at 21:02 GMT
England captain Ben Stokes has warned the cricketing world to “write this team off at your peril” after his side's series defeat to India. England, having gone 1-0 up, fell to a fourth-straight defeat in the series in the final Test in Dharamshala, being bundled out cheaply twice to lose by an innings and 64 runs. But Stokes says his team will use it as "fuel" to recover.
England captain Ben Stokes leaves the field at stumps on day two of the 5th Test Match between India and England at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on March 08, 2024 in Dharamsala, India.
Image credit: Getty Images
England captain Ben Stokes has warned the cricketing world to "write this team off at your peril” after their chastening series defeat to India.
Stokes' side succumbed to an innings and 64 run loss in Dharamsala as they tumbled to a 4-1 overall loss.
Joe Root’s 84 in the second innings, along with Jonny Bairstow’s 39, were the only respectable tallies for the visiting side in the final Test, as India sealed their biggest winning margin of the five-match series.
The tour had started on a positive note for England after a momentous victory in the opening Test, but four straight losses meant that the tourists fell to a first series defeat under Stokes’ captaincy.
"Sometimes taking risks [can lead] to your downfall, but when there is reason as to why you are taking these risks and it doesn’t quite work out, then that’s fine,” Stokes said at a press conference.
"It is a tough game, cricket. It can eat you up. This tour in particular, there’s always one that can lead you astray or make you a better player.
"I’ve done a lot of India tours now. Obviously disappointed with my own performance for the team, but write this team off, write me off at your own peril.”
Stokes was also keen to point out the positives he had seen from his men during the tour.
"We’ve done a lot of things right,” he said.
"We’ve continued the way in which we’ve gone about things with how much success that we have had. For us, this series isn’t going to - and shouldn’t - affect anything that we’ve managed to achieve before this tour.
"It’s the first time, particularly these last four games, where this time has been dominated pretty much the whole time throughout a series. We will use this as inspiration to become a better team and better players. That’s the mentality that we have.
"If we weren’t disappointed and frustrated with how this series ended up, then I don’t know what other emotions you could have. Use it as fuel.”
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