Ben Stokes' captaincy is constantly hogging the headlines. The English all-rounder is often credited with giving new life to the England Test team. His aggressive style and habit of inspiring fellow players have helped the team recover from many difficult situations. The way Stokes captained the team at Lord's in the third Test against India recently impressed cricket fans a lot. India dominated the match most of the time, yet Stokes did not give up. Under his leadership, England won by 22 runs and took a 2-1 lead in the series.
ENG vs IND: Michael Vaughan heaped praise on Ben Stokes
Former captain Michael Vaughan praised Stokes while talking on Cricbuzz. According to him, Stokes' presence on the field itself becomes a big threat to the opposing team. Vaughan said that Stokes has always played with his whole heart for the team and has given a new level to Test cricket.
He also believed that the English skipper played the right bet by including Jofra Archer in the team after four years. Vaughan also found Stokes' field placement commendable. The former English captain clearly stated that whenever the pressure increases, Stokes himself takes charge. Even when England lost the first two matches in the Ashes 2023, Stokes did not let the team break down.
“What he has done for the team and the way he has played this expansive game across Test match cricket for the number of years is phenomenal,” Vaughan said while speaking on Cricbuzz.
“England don’t lose many games of cricket when Ben Stokes is in action. When the pressure’s been on and the game’s on a knife edge, I don’t think I have ever seen Ben lose,” he added.
The series was tied by winning two of the next three matches. Vaughan believes that England do not lose many matches under Stokes' leadership. Even if the team loses the Ashes in future, it will not affect Stokes' game or his captaincy. Vaughan admitted that players like Stokes show their true colours only in difficult times.
In our view, Ben Stokes is not just a captain but an inspiration. His fighting mentality on the field fills every player with enthusiasm. The Lord's Test proved again that he is not one to leave the field without a fight. The things Vaughan has said truly define Stokes' captaincy. England needed such a leader who could snatch victory even from the brink of defeat. Everyone's eyes will be on Stokes in the upcoming Ashes as well. Whatever the result, Stokes's passion is what makes him special.
