“I don’t think we’ll just walk out and start doing it. I don’t think either team is truly looking to achieve that. I believe there will always be a period in a Test series when stuff heats up; it is a major series,” Ben Stokes remarked.
Several Indian and English players have been involved in altercations during the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The third Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London included multiple verbal clashes between the two teams.
Shubman Gill gave Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett a mouthful when the two England hitters tried to take a break from the Test match near the end of Day 3. Mohammed Siraj also got into a heated argument with the opening batters, which resulted in a fine. On Day 5, Jofra Archer gave Rishabh Pant a violent send-off, while Brydon Carse and Ravindra Jadeja got into a confrontation after accidentally colliding.
At the pre-match press conference before of the fourth Test, which begins on Wednesday, July 23, at Old Trafford in Manchester, Ben Stokes stated that such a long series can frequently become heated. He also remarked that both sides are under tremendous pressure, which sometimes effects their attitude on the pitch.
“Both sides face a lot of pressure to produce. So, when you’re out and about, take note of your surroundings. Obviously, there will be some periods of heat. Obviously, that night when Zak and Ben had to go out simply kind of kicked everything off, and we had the advantage of bowling last in a Test match to win. So we just put everything we had at India, not only with our talents but also with their enthusiasm on the pitch’, said England’s captain.
We won’t take a backstep: Ben Stokes
Stokes was reminded of Harry Brook‘s comments about coach Brendon McCullum saying that England were too nice. The talismanic all-rounder said it was a nice moment for the team as they gelled together, but reiterated that his team is not going to start sledging India because it could take their focus off the game. However, he mentioned that the Three Lions are going to give it back if India stir the pot.
“It was a real nice moment I think as a team that, when you speak about something like that, and then everyone buys into that. As I said, it’s not something that we’re gonna purposely go out and look to start again because then that’ll take our focus off what we need to do out in the middle. But by no means that, we’re not going to take a backward step and let the opposition try and be confrontational towards us and not try and give a bit back. I think that goes for most teams, to be honest anyway, so it’s not like we’re the only team who does that,” said Stokes.
India
