Former Indian batter Mohammed Kaif has raised serious questions about the growing praise surrounding England captain Ben Stokes, especially after his decision-making during the second Test against India at Edgbaston. Taking to social media, Kaif expressed his disapproval of Stokes’ tactics, particularly his call to bowl first on a flat track, which has backfired for the hosts.
“I have never understood the hype around Ben Stokes the captain. On a flat track with sun shining he decides to bowl, today with some life in pitch edges flying but no extra slip. Batsmen took England to win in first Test but Stokes didn’t score many. Please inform if I have missed any of his hidden leadership master stroke,” Kaif posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Stokes’ decision to field first allowed India to post a massive first-innings total. Captain Shubman Gill led the charge, scoring a career-best 269 in the first innings and following it up with a second-innings century (169). He has become the only cricketer in history to score both 250+ and 150+ in the same Test match, underlining England’s poor decision to let India bat last on a flat and deteriorating pitch.
So far in the second Test, Team India have dominated with the bat in both innings, putting up huge totals and leaving England with a mammoth target of 608 to chase on the final day. By stumps on Day 4, England had already stumbled to 72/3, losing Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Joe Root to the fiery Indian pace duo of Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj.
Despite the criticism, Stokes’ overall Test captaincy record since taking over in 2022 remains strong. Under his leadership, England have played 34 Tests, winning 21, losing 12, with one draw due to weather conditions.
As Ollie Pope and Harry Brook prepare to open the proceedings on Day 5, England still need 536 more runs with over 90 overs in hand.
For more exciting articles, follow RevSportz.