Former England skipper Michael Vaughan showered praise on Ben Stokes after Three Lions registered a thrilling 22-run win against India at Lord’s on Monday. Stokes led from the front in the third Test to help his team win an enthralling contest.
The all-rounder returned with figures of 3-48 in 24 overs he bowled in the second innings of the Lord’s Test. Stokes accounted for Akash Deep, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah. Earlier in the first innings, Stokes had dismissed Karun Nair and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Furthermore, the England captain had effected Rishabh Pant’s run out in the first innings, which was the turning point of the game.
Michael Vaughan wrote in his column for the Telegraph, “England have never had a captain quite like Ben Stokes. One who just does not accept when he is beaten, one who does not accept his team are having a bad week, and can drag a game back his way through sheer skill and force of will. This was a fabulous win for England, one of their best, because it came from nowhere really. It was built on the winning mentality of the captain, which just coursed through the whole side.”
“Stokes’s team are the most watchable team I have ever seen, and that includes some of the great sides. England are a long way from belonging in the same bracket of the greats, but you cannot take your eyes off them because they play such an extraordinary brand of cricket and can turn games around from anywhere.”
Vaughan lauded Stokes for giving his absolute best with the ball despite all the injury concerns and his age.
“Stokes’s bowling was exceptional. To be hitting 90mph aged 34 after all his injuries, with the back spin he gets on the ball, the movement, the angle in, the relentless length. He looked horrible to face, and his ball to get KL Rahul was very special.”
The fourth Test match between England and India will be played at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, from July 23 onwards.
