Animated outbursts won’t work for us: Ben Stokes on Virat Kohli’s style of play

Tags: England tour of India 2021, India, England

Published on: Mar 26, 2021

All-rounder Ben Stokes has stated that using aggressive body language and going over the top with their celebrations is not England’s way of playing cricket. Stokes was responding to a question on Indian captain Virat Kohli’s animated reactions to the fall of a wicket.

"Every team and every player has a certain way of operating in the field, which makes them successful. As a team over the last four-five years, that's not the way that works for us," Stokes said at a virtual press conference ahead of the second one-dayer in Pune.

"We stick to what we do best and what we make is to build a better side. Each team is entitled to their own way of operations. India have there and we have ours," he added.

Asked what kind of Kohli England would like to face, Stokes cheekily replied: "Personally, I prefer Virat doesn't get runs, because that's not good for us."

Despite the loss in the first ODI to India, the World Cup-winning all-rounder maintained that England deserve to be No. 1.

"We deserve to be No. 1 because of our results and how we played our cricket and we won't go away from that. Being No. 1 is obviously a fantastic thing to have next to your name as a team, but it's not our driving force," Stokes said.

"Our driving force is the way that we go about it and our attitude towards playing the game. And that's what's made us be successful, and the more successful we are obviously the more chance and the more opportunity we've got to be at No. 1," he further added.

He also admitted that he has spoken to Joe Root about the challenges of batting at the No. 3 position. Stokes came own down in the first ODI. The all-rounder revealed, "I did actually message Root just asking about his mindset at No 3. He was pretty clear to me and just said ''play the way that you play''. Just because he plays a certain way doesn't mean that I need to try and play like," he said.

"At No 3, potentially, I would be facing 100 balls, compared to maybe 60-70 like I normally do. I haven't looked to change too much, just might be facing a slightly different situation, especially when I'm starting off my innings," he added.

The second ODI of the three-match series will be played in Pune on Friday. England must win the game to stay alive in the series.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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