Ben Stokes took pride in England’s 28-run win over India in their first Test as a defining moment for him as skipper.
The 32-year-old all-rounder lauded his team for a gallant comeback after conceding a 190-run first innings lead. Stokes noted England’s latest victory in Hyderabad on Sunday is above their other great battles in the past.
“We’ve been involved in some amazing games,” the English international cricketer said. “But I think where we are and who we’re playing against, this victory is definitely our greatest triumph since I’ve been captain.”
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England relied on Ollie Pope’s epic 196 and left-arm spinner Tom Hartley’s seven-wicket haul to pull off the win. Stokes was vindicated for trusting Hartley despite struggling in the initial innings.
Hartley will always be someone Stokes will “have to turn back to.”The Durham superstar observed “how the Indian spinners operate in the field” before he made some adjustments.
Stokes also praised Pope, who, he said, “manipulated the field with his sweep shots.”
“I think that’s the greatest innings that’s ever been played in the subcontinent by an English batsman,” Stokes said on Pope, his 26-year-old middle-order batter.
